SACRED EARTH JOURNEYS

Welcoming 2012

2011-12-29T19:15:00.000-05:00

As we now enter the year of 2012, so many thoughts and old teachings go through my mind. Most of us know by now that the Mayan Calendar ends in 2012 and that the Maya recorded several of their prophecies regarding this time. We can still learn about these teachings today at ancient Maya sites and through ancient Maya texts and sacred writings. While many assume this calendar end date will be the end of the world as we know it, Mayan elders and respected teachers have clarified the prophecies to express that this time will not be an apocalyptic event, rather it will be a shift in time, a shift in conscious, and a shift in the world as we know it.

These shifts, however, have already begun over the past few years. We have witnessed many events and experienced many changes already that prove to us that the world is in fact already altering and transforming. How this will culminate at the end of 2012, that is left for us to see, but we all must realize and accept that something important is now stirring.

Waking up to these prophecies and understanding what they mean to us on an individual level requires our own reflection. How do you envision 2012? What is shifting in your own life? What personal changes do you want to see in this year and beyond? By meditating on these questions and seeking the wisdom of past and present teachers, you too will come to understand your own purpose for this time. As the world experiences its own transformation, so will each of us experience our own evolution.

Our cherished Maya Master Teacher, Miguel Angel Vergara Calleros shared us with these words in his lecture, “The Maya Prophecy for 2012: Hope for all Humankind”, regarding this time leading up to 2012:

“We are living, in this moment, a process of Change of Consciousness in all of us; in which a catastrophic prophecy or negative saying, is able to be transformed into something positive; we have already been given the power to believe, to create, and to manifest; here, right now, in this moment and in the future, we have the marvellous opportunity to create!”

As we enter 2012, let us focus on our own personal manifestations and creations. We each have the power to create the world we wish to see. What kind of world do you wish to design for yourself?

To read the rest of Miguel Angel’s lecture click here.

~ Daniela Masaro

Traditions and Symbols of Yule

2011-12-22T17:49:00.011-05:00

When the days grew colder and the nights grew longer, people of ancient times would light candles and gather round fires to lure back the sun. They would bring out their stores of food and enjoy feasting and festivities. Dances were danced and songs were sung and all would delight in decorating their homes.

Evergreens were cut and brought indoors to symbolize life, rebirth and renewal. They were thought to have power over death because their green never faded, and they were used to defeat winter demons and hold back death and destruction. Because of their strength and tenacity, they were also believed to encourage the Sun’s return.

Holly, which represents the masculine element, was often used to decorate doors, windows and fireplaces. Because of its prickliness it was thought to capture or ward off evil spirits before they could enter a home and cause harm. The holly leaves, symbolic of the Holly King, represent hope, and the red berries represent potency.

Mistletoe, which represents the female element, also holds much importance as it was used by Druid priests in special ceremonies during the Winter Solstice. They believed that its green leaves represented the fertility of the Mother Goddess, and its white berries, the seed of the Forest God or Oak King. Druids would harvest the mistletoe from sacred oak trees with golden scythes and maidens would gather underneath the trees to catch the falling branches, preventing them from falling to the ground; for if this happened, it was believed that all sacred energy in the plant would pour back into the earth. The branches and sprigs were then divided and distributed to be hung over doorways as protection against thunder, lightning and other evils. Mistletoe was also worn as an amulet for fertility, or hung above the headboard.

The Yule Tree was also another important symbol in pagan tradition. Originally, it represented the Tree of Life or the World Tree among early pagans. In ancient times it was decorated with gifts people wanted to receive from the gods. It was adorned with natural ornaments such as pinecones, berries and other fruit, as well as symbols sacred to the gods and goddess. In some holiday traditions, garlands of popcorn and berries were strung around the tree so that visiting birds could feed off the tree as well.

The custom of burning the Yule Log began with the ancient Scandinavians who burned a huge log, felled from and Ash tree, to honour their god Thor. In the Celtic tradition, a continual hearth fire was kept to prevent spirits from entering the home. In order for the fire to keep burning, a large Oak tree was felled and brought into the home where the tree was placed trunk first into the hearth, with the last remnants set aside to burn with next year’s fire. It was also believed that the longer the Yule log burned, the faster the sun would come to warm the earth.

Candles were another way to have an eternal flame within the home. They symbolized the light and warmth of the sun and were used to chase away evils and lure back the returning sun/son.
Wreaths were also traditional in ancient times for they symbolized the wheel of the year and the completion of another cycle. They were made of evergreens and adorned with cones and berries and hung as decoration throughout the home. They were also given as gifts to symbolize the infinity of goodwill, friendship and joyfulness.

Bells were often rung during the Winter Solstice to drive away demons that surfaced during the dark time of the year. They were rung in the morning as everyone began to wake to chase away the dark days and herald in the warmer, brighter days following the solstice.

Elves first became associated with Yule because the ancients knew that the Spirits that created the Sun inhabited the land of Elves. By including elves in the Yule celebrations, the ancients believed they were assuring the elves assistance in the coercion of the Sun to return.

Gingerbread was considered to be a specialty bread during this time since ginger had not been available until the Crusaders brought it back in the 11th century. There were strict laws regarding specialty breads in that time, so gingerbread was only allowed to be produced during the holidays and thus, it became associated with winter and Yule.

Wassail derives from the Old English words waes hael, which means “be well”, “be hale” or “good health”. It is a strong drink, usually a mixture of ale, honey and spices or mulled apple cider. When pagans went into the forest to fell the great oak for the Yule log, they would anoint the tree with wassail and bedeck them with wassail-soaked cakes, thus the ritual of wassailing was born. At home, the wassail would be poured into a large bowl during feast time and the host, when greeting his or her guests, would lift a drink and wish them “waes hael”, to which they would reply “drinc hael”, which meant “drink and be well”.

Carolling was also a popular Yule tradition when young children honoured the Winter Solstice with song. They would go through the villages, singing door to door. The villagers, in return, would reward them with tokens and sweets and small gifts which symbolized the food and prosperity given by the Mother Goddess to all her Earthly children.

Nature Symbols of Yule: Holly, Oak, Mistletoe, Ivy, Evergreens, Laurel, Bayberry, Blessed Thistle, Frankincense, Pine, Sage, Yellow Cedar.

Food and Drink of Yule: Yule Log Cake, Gingerbread, Fruits, Berries, Nuts, Pork dishes, Turkey, Eggnog, Ginger Tea, Spiced Cider, Wassail

Colours of Yule: Red, Green, White, Silver, Gold
Red represents the waning Holly King. Green represents the waxing Oak King. White represents the purity and hope of new Light. Silver represents the Moon. Gold represents the Sun/Son.

Stones of Yule: Rubies, Bloodstones, Garnets, Emeralds, Diamonds

Activities of Yule: Carolling ~ Wassailing the Trees ~ Burning the Yule Log ~ Decorating the Yule Tree ~ Exchanging Gifts ~ Kissing under the Mistletoe

Deities of Yule:
Goddesses: The Great Mother and Earth Goddess, Freyja, Gaia, Diana, Bona-Dea, Isis, Demeter
Gods: Mabon, The Sun God, The Star (Divine) Child, The Oak King, The Holly King, The Green Man, The Red Man, The Horned One, Odin, Lugh, Apollo, Ra

~ Daniela Masaro

Artwork by Anne Stokes

Yule

2011-12-09T18:01:00.005-05:00

As we approach the darkest night of the year on the Winter Solstice, I thought I'd share with you all some information about the ancient pagan festival of Yule that falls on this day...

Origins of Yule
The word Yule is thought to mean either “wheel” or “feast”. This joyful pagan holiday, celebrated by many ancient cultures around the world, falls on the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. Winter Solstice derives from the Latin sol, meaning “sun” and sister, meaning “to stop, or to stand still”. Thus, the Winter Solstice is the day of the “Standing-Still Sun”, for on this day the sun appears to stand still in the sky. Although it is the longest night, it is also the turning point of the year. Following this night, the sun grows stronger in the sky, and the days become gradually longer once more.

The festival of Yule is an honouring of the cycles of nature, a celebration of rebirth, and a reaffirmation of the continuation of life. It is a time of peace and charity and a celebration of hope; hope that darkness will be banished from the earth and that light will be reborn. Because many ancient traditions affiliate darkness with evil, Yule was a celebration to help goodness, along with its light and warmth, return.

On this day, the Goddess gives birth to the “Divine Child of Promise”, her son Mabon, also known as the “Star Child”. This son would become the Sun God, representing the return of light. Because His birth heralds the days growing longer, the God represents hope in the coming cold of winter and the promise that spring lies ahead. As the son draws close to His Mother, we too must draw inward to reflect on the past year and be thankful for family and loved ones who have helped us through hardships.

Holly King and Oak King
The Sun God who rules the seasons, is portrayed as the Holly King and Oak King, twin brothers who represent the waxing and waning cycles of the year. During the solstices, the Oak King, representing summer, light, and growth, and the Holly King, representing winter, darkness, and decay, engage in a battle for supremacy. At Yule, it is the waxing Oak King who vanquishes the Holly King and bears the crown for the season. The Oak King holds his reign until Midsummer when they return to battle once more. At this time, the Holly King defeats the Oak King and rules until the time of Yule when the battle begins once more. Yule, thus, commemorates the death of the Holly King, who symbolizes the old year and shortened sun, at the hands of his successor, the Oak King, who symbolizes the new year and the new sun that begins to grow.

The Oak King is also known as the Green man and the Holly King, the Red Man. In many countries these figures have remained separate. The Oak King is assigned with the role of the good gift giver, while the Holly King represents the wicked punisher. The Holly King frequently appears dressed in red with a sprig of holly in his hair, and is sometimes depicted driving a team of eight stags, which represent the 8 Sabbats of the pagan festive cycle. The Oak King is often portrayed as the fertility god and the lord of the forest.

Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas and Kris Kringle are all interpretations of the Holly and Oak king combined as one. As the one who rewards, he bestows gifts to good children, and as the punisher and depriver, he gives only ash or lumps of coal to the naughty ones.

This year, the winter solstice falls on December 22, 2011, at 12:30 A.M. (EST)

~Daniela Masaro

Artwork: "Winter Solstice" by Amy Brown

A Sacred Time

2011-11-25T16:11:00.001-05:00

With the holiday season in full gear, there is much activity going on these days. As we busy ourselves with organizing, shopping, gathering and celebrating, we often lose sight of the sacred in these times. Lost in a haze of crowded streets and parking lots, we shuttle ourselves and our loved ones from one place to another, barely taking the time for a full breath, let alone pausing to enjoy the beauty that is all around us. If this sounds like you, don’t feel so bad as you are definitely not alone. I, myself, have felt bewildered and disoriented in the process of “getting stuff done” during these times. I’m struggling with it at this very moment. If you are beginning to feel like you are floating adrift and are hovering somewhere outside yourself, here are some suggestions on grounding and finding your centre, and returning to what is sacred, which is really what we should be focusing on at this time.

Firstly, find a quiet place where you will be undisturbed for a few moments. You may want to dim the lights, or light a candle. Create a serene and sacred space for yourself. Make this time special. Next, find a comfortable place to sit upright. Sit strong and aligned without slouching, but do not strain or sit stiffly. When you are seated comfortably, begin to focus on your breath. Breathe deeply. Breathe as if you are taking your first and final breath. Focus on deep breaths for a few minutes. Breathe in for 3 seconds, hold for 3, breathe out for 3, and hold for another 3 seconds. Allow yourself to be fully filled with your inhalation while taking your in breaths and allow yourself to be fully emptied with each exhalation. Repeat this pattern 5 times. Begin to breathe in a natural rhythm once more.

After you feel more centred and calm, begin to focus on what is important to you at this time. What do you hold near and dear? What lights up your face and makes you smile? What warms your heart and spirit? Think about the people who bring joy to your life. Think about random meetings with strangers that made you beam with delight. Hold these people and these times in your thoughts and breathe them all in. Imagine a glowing light filling your entire being and shining out towards all those you have just thought of. Feel yourself being filled with gratitude.

Upon closing your meditation, write a few special notes to people you wish to thank. Don’t forget to include yourself in that list. Write yourself a letter, put it in an envelope and mail it to yourself while sending out holiday cards. Let it be a nice surprise to yourself when you are sifting through all your regular mail in a few days.

Try to find a few moments to practice this meditation daily or at least every few days. Take the time to enjoy the festive scenes around you - the shimmering lights and candles, beautifully adorned trees, holiday decorations, holiday music. Relish all the sights, sounds and smells of the season and rejoice in all the beauty that surrounds you. Reconnect with what is sacred in your life and find time to appreciate it and be grateful.

~ Daniela Masaro

Remembrance

2011-11-11T17:14:00.003-05:00

On today’s date we pause to remember our heroes and heroines, those who have sacrificed their lives, and those who we cherish and honour. As special and important it is to remember these people on this day of remembrance, it is important to do so each and every day. As we go about our busy lives, not only do we forget to express gratitude to all those who have helped make our world a better place, but we often forget those closest to us as well. On this day, let us be reminded of all the people we hold most dear to our hearts. Let us thank them and honour them, and show them just how special they are to us.

Throughout history, many cultures have established rituals and elaborate celebrations in honour of remembrance. From adorning altars, preparing sumptuous feasts, participating in dances, or even simply wearing symbols of remembrance on clothing, there have been many ceremonies and practices used to help us pay homage to those we wish to remember.

Whether someone has passed or is still living, pausing to reflect on all they have shared is an essential element of maintaining a bond with that person. Time is a fleeting thing and even though we may feel we do not have enough hours in the day, it is important to take a few minutes to just be present, to be still, and remember. If we could take this time each and every day, imagine how much fuller and more enriched our lives would be. Imagine how much stronger the bonds we have with our loved ones could grow.

At this time, I’d like to ask you to take a moment to pause, remain silent, and think deeply about those who you would like to remember and honour. Send your energy out to them and give thanks. Remember what is beautiful about them, what makes you laugh, what you love most about their nature, and simply smile. Hold this love in your heart and then send it out into the world. Let us all be grateful for each other - friend or stranger, loved one or foe. Let us remember that we are all one and that we are all here together.

~ Daniela Masaro

Greek Gods and Goddesses

2011-11-04T14:57:00.007-04:00

Greece is a land steeped in myth and mystery with legends and stories spanning thousands of years. The culture is rich and colourful and still reflective of many of the sacred beliefs that revolved around what we today consider Greek Mythology. With ancient ruins and temples still calling and welcoming visitors from across the world, it is easy to understand why this country remains so captivating. Who were the powerful gods and goddesses that once reigned over these ancient lands and its inhabitants? Why do people answer their call even in present day?

The Olympian gods and goddesses were the main deities in Ancient Greece. The twelve principle gods and goddesses who resided atop of Mount Olympus formed the Greek pantheon and presided over every aspect of human life. While in total there were more than twelve Olympian gods, there was never more than this number at one time. The gods were born in a variety of magical and supernatural ways, and even though they grew up just like humans, they were immortal. They married, had offspring, and often meddled in the affairs of the humans they ruled over, regardless if it was welcomed or not. Greek myths paint colourful and intriguing tales of the gods and goddesses and of their many trysts and encounters with humans. To this day, we learn about and are told these stories that educate and delight us, while conveying many valuable moral lessons.

Here is a brief list and description of the Principle Olympian God and Goddesses:

Aphrodite - The goddess of love and beauty.

Apollo - The god of music, poetry, the arts, healing, and prophecy.

Ares - The god of war and courage.

Artemis - The virgin goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and childbirth.

Athena - The goddess of wisdom, war, and handicrafts.

Demeter - The goddess of agriculture, horticulture, grain and the harvest.

Dionysus - The god of wine, parties, lust, and pleasure.

Hades (Pluto) - The god of the underworld and death.

Hephaestus - The god of fire, metalwork, stonemasonry, and sculpture.

Hera - Wife of Zeus and queen of the gods. The goddess of marriage, women, and childbirth.

Hermes - The messenger god and god of travel, trade, language, writing, diplomacy, animal husbandry, and thievery.

Hestia - The virgin goddess of the hearth and home, family and cooking.

Poseidon - The god of the sea, rivers, flood, droughts, earthquakes, and horses.

Zeus - The king of the gods and ruler on Mount Olympus. The god of the sky, weather, thunder, law, order, and fate.

We invite you to join Phil Cousineau in Greece for our unforgettable journey, Sacred Odyssey into the Heart of Ancient Greece - The Myths, Heroes, Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece. Journey through a land of myth and mysteries, discovering the legends of ancient gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines. Visit sacred ancient sites in honour of the Greek gods and goddesses, and take a step back in time to relive the ancient stories. We welcome you to join us on this mystical journey to connect with the power of the ancient gods and goddesses and be graced with all the magic and fascination this land has to offer.

~ Daniela Masaro

Honouring the End of a Cycle

2011-10-27T13:09:00.001-04:00

As we approach the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, I am called to draw my attention to the end of yet another cycle. As we have gathered our harvest for the year and begin to lay the earth to rest, so too can we find our own time for respite. This is a time to draw closer to our loved ones for both physical and spiritual warmth. With Samhain marking the end of one year and the beginning of a new one, it is also a time for celebration, one where we can celebrate the year that has passed, as well as invite in a new time and new blessings.

This time also corresponds to the “Day of the Dead” as celebrated in Mexico to honour the dearly departed. Rather than mourn the loss of loved ones, this feast day offers us the opportunity to celebrate the life our loved ones left behind, along with all the cherished memories and gifts. It is a time to call upon their wisdom and guidance so that we may continue on our own path with greater knowledge and insight. The festival implies that death is not a final ending, merely the ending of one cycle and the beginning of another. Memories linger, honouring continues, and spirit lives on.

As this day approaches, we should all try to focus on what cycles are coming to a close for us individually. What is ending for you? What process is culminating? What do you wish to lay to rest? Now is a perfect opportunity to discard and let go of the things that do not serve you in order to welcome in new gifts. While letting go and marking an end to something is often difficult and at times sad, it is all part of the natural rhythm of life and the universe. For if we do not put an end to one thing, how can a new one begin? All has an expiry date. It is important to not view this time as a time of loss, but one of renewal. One door must close for another to open. Old baggage gets heavy and weighs us down. We must shed that which burdens and hampers us, so that we can move at a lighter pace.

Do not mourn the loss, the giving up, the finale. Honour the end of a cycle and celebrate this wonderful gift to begin anew. Allow yet another round to come to its natural completion and find hope and joy in the fact that a new journey is about to begin.

~ Daniela Masaro

Gratitude

2011-10-11T11:27:00.005-04:00

Sitting here at my computer, trying to recover after a busy but wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, I am left with the lingering sentiment of gratitude. How could I not feel anything but grateful for all the wonderful blessings in my life? Surrounded by cherished loved ones, a cornucopia of good food, shelter and comfort, I have more than I could ever ask for. With my heart and belly as full as tonight’s moon will be, I feel so blessed.

Living in a country where we have all we could ever need and want at our fingertips, it is sometimes easy to forget how so many others in the world lack even the basic needs. We may even forget to be thankful for the smallest of blessings. Acknowledging all that we have and expressing our gratitude is the best way to honour all the gifts we have, no matter how great or small. Sharing these gifts with others is also important, and in my opinion, blesses us doubly.

Expressing gratitude through ritual is common throughout many cultures and I have always been fascinated by the infinite ways there are to give thanks. The Maya express their gratitude to the Hunab Ku the “supreme God” and the Yuumtsilo’ob, all the gods and goddesses and spiritual guardians, with a Taa'jche', a sacred ceremony of the New Fire. They also make offerings of corn, balché, flowers, sweets, and other special gifts as a way of sharing their blessings and giving thanks. The Inca perform sacred Despacho ceremonies to express gratitude and connect to the energy and spirits of nature. This honouring of Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the Apus, (Nature Spirits) is expressed through special offerings and intentions to show gratitude, love and respect and to also attract more of these blessings in return. In Hawaii, locals take part in a special lei ceremony to show their appreciation and to exchange love and aloha. With the belief that the heads and shoulders are sacred parts of the body, the gifting of beautiful floral garlands is a way to express reverence, honour and respect and to share love and thanks with another. So many other cultures express gratitude in these very special ways and have carried on these important rituals and traditions for thousands of years.

Keeping these sacred traditions in mind, you too can find many ways to try and incorporate them into your life in whatever shape and form you find fitting when you want to express your gratitude. Whether it is sitting around a table with loved ones to share in the bounty of the harvest with laughter and love, sharing gifts and tokens of affection, or writing words and notes of thanks and love, no expression of appreciation is too great or small. As long as we keep in mind all that we are grateful for and honour others with thanks, we can ensure a wonderful life of abundance and blessings for all.

Blessed be to all!

~ Daniela Masaro

Open and Heal Your Heart with Qi Gong

2011-09-27T12:20:00.007-04:00

Qi Gong is a powerful system of ancient healing that involves a mixture of Chinese medicine, philosophy and movement. It incorporates the art and science of breathing, gentle motion, meditation, and visualization to cleanse, strengthen, and circulate the life (qi) energy throughout the body. This practice is also believed to awaken one spiritually and also facilitates the development of human potential. A regular qi gong practice can improve the health of body, mind and spirit alike. The fluid motions of the exercise aid in strengthening the muscles, while improving flexibility and suppleness, and also help to revitalize the body. The ease of the practice helps to create a sense of peace and tranquillity whereby the mind is quieted and at rest; calmness is allowed to take over. Spiritually, the practice helps to open you up to your full potential and authentic self by connecting you to the divinity within and without. It allows you to tap into the energy that envelops you and move it through your entire being to awaken and uplift you.

The central focus of the qigong practice is the control and manipulation of the qi, the life force or energy. This energy exists in all things and sustains life. By working with this energy, a practitioner is able to interact with the surrounding elements, incorporating their energy to balance the personal qi within. It is by balancing the opposing yin and yang energies and forces that one is able to achieve an inner balance and optimal health.

Through the practice of qi gong, one is able to open and strengthen the heart. The heart has a connection to all parts of the body so it is integral to keep it healthy and thriving. When the heart is failing, all other organs and areas of the body will fail. In return, when other parts of the body are suffering, the heart will weaken and suffer as well. Because of this important relationship, keeping the heart happy is key. A method used in qi gong to maintain a happy and healthy heart is the Inner Smile. By using the heart sound and breath work, one is able to connect to the heart and thus also connect to the rest of the body as well.

"The Inner Smile centres and calms the heart. How can you keep your heart open to all the ups and downs of life? The practice of loving acceptance is essential to keeping centred in these times of accelerated change. The Inner Smile meditation is a way to make friends with the spiritual and physical intelligence of your vital organs, from which your emotions arise. Feel how your body smiles back! Even your chemistry will change and become more balanced." ~ Minke de Vos

By supporting the health of your heart, mind, and body with qi gong you can also grow the love in your life. The movements used in the practice will stretch and stimulate the organ meridians, particularly the heart, kidneys and lungs, and the healing sounds will help to liberate stuck emotions. This will free your heart to welcome in more love and healing energy and in turn create a happier, healthier and more loving you.

To help get you started on your path, we invite you to try this Energy Field Meditation guided by Universal Tao Instructor and teacher of Qi Gong, Minke de Vos. To begin the meditation, please click here.

To learn of Minke’s own very personal journey to a new, healthy and happy heart, please watch the video, "The Heart of a Dancer".

We are also honoured to have both Minke de Vos and Mantak Chia leading a special retreat in Thailand on March 6 – 18, 2012. Check out our Journey to the Heart of Tao on our website www.sacredearthjourneys.ca and please feel free to contact us with any questions or to register.

~ Daniela Masaro

Reflections

2011-09-14T13:33:00.002-04:00

Lately I find myself reflecting on the past year and all the things I’ve seen, done and experienced this year. You see, September has always felt like the start of the year for me, so it’s usually around this time that I begin to look back at all the events of the year and really take the time to remember, reflect, and relive all my memories. I find it a great way to acknowledge and give thanks for all the gifts I have received, as well as look forward to the new year and begin making new plans and setting new goals for myself.

Reflecting not only allows us to look within, to establish where we are in our lives right now, but it also allows us to project our dreams for the future and help manifest them into reality. When we reflect, we can express our deepest gratitude, discover our longings and desires, and help root and set the lessons we have learned thus far. Somehow everything becomes more tangible, more real.

Taking the time to reflect may seem like a frivolity with the busy lives so many of us lead today, however, it is an important aspect of any healthy spiritual life. When you reflect, you can truly see yourself looking back at you. Who is this person you’ve become? Who do you want to be? How do you want the world to see you and how do you reflect the real you to the world? These are all important questions to ask yourself every now and then to ensure you are staying authentic and true to yourself.

We all want to be seen in the most favourable light, shining bright and mighty like the biggest star. We all want to reflect the unique beauty we all have within. So how do we express this to the world when sometimes we can’t see this in ourselves? Reflection. Quiet your mind, go within, reflect on what you want to explore and discover and you will begin to see it all before your very eyes. As you begin to let spirit reflect itself in the outer you, you will also begin to see the spirit in others being reflected back as well. Suddenly your world will become brighter, much more beautiful, and reflectively brilliant.

So as I now take the time to reflect on my comings and goings of the year and begin to make plans for what I’d like to see in the future, I welcome you to reflect with me and take a step in creating the most beautiful reflection of yourself the world has ever seen.

Namaste

~ Daniela Masaro

Get Lost

2011-08-26T14:17:00.007-04:00

I was recently sifting through some of my old photos from some of my past travels and fond memories instantly began to surface. I remembered things like driving the country roads of England, having no idea where I was going; being so mesmerized by the sunrise in the Drakensburg mountains one morning in South Africa that I completely forgot how cold I was; how intrigued and excited I was while navigating the labyrinthine tributaries of the Amazon River on a zodiac adventure that I still get goose bumps thinking about it even now; and wandering aimlessly in a small Mexican town completely transfixed by the sights, smells and sounds that I didn’t realize how far I had ventured from my hotel. It’s remarkable how memories can linger and affect us so long after our travels.

In recalling these precious memories, I found a common thread that helped me understand why each of these unique moments was so special to me. They were all moments when I was completely lost in time and so deeply connected to the present. I was truly living in the now. In a world where our attention has to be given to so many things at once, it’s memories like these that make me appreciate travel even more so. What better way is there to escape the mundane and the stress from our busy lives than to completely lose yourself in some amazing travel experiences?

We often hear travellers say they travel to seek, to find themselves, to explore a new place, or to discover some deeper meaning to life. While searching is an important part of any journey, I think getting lost is also an integral aspect of transformative travel. Whether it’s getting lost in a maze-like city, lost on an unmarked road, or simply lost in a moment, getting lost teaches you some very important lessons. For how can you find anything if you don’t at first get lost?

While getting lost can often be a scary and unsettling event, it can also be so liberating and so revitalizing. It seems that most of us fight so hard every day to keep order in our lives that we don’t have time to enjoy those simple moments. Everything is scheduled and so planned out, we don’t leave time to get lost. We think it frivolous or annoying to be spellbound by anything that doesn’t actively contribute to the day’s roster and we forget how wonderful it can be to just let go and get lost.

Getting lost in an unknown place is one of the greatest gifts travel can offer us. Who knows what treasure is hidden along that back road or in that maze of market stalls? Imagine where that jungle trail can lead you, perhaps to a gorgeous waterfall or secret ancient temple. Just think how exciting it would be to throw out the map just once and explore a new place using your own instincts and universal guides. Not only would it make for a thrilling experience, but you might just find something you didn’t even know you were looking for. So get out there, and get lost!

~ Daniela Masaro

Sacred Pilgrimage

2011-08-11T16:25:00.004-04:00

Have you ever longed to embark on a journey of pure wonder and transformation, a journey that may stretch your personal boundaries and open your heart, mind, and spirit to new possibilities and new insights? If so, a sacred pilgrimage is the trip for you. For centuries, people of all cultures have gone on pilgrimages to sacred sites around the world. These journeys acted as rites of passage, an expression of faith and devotion, an answer to a sacred call, or merely a seeking of spirit. In his book, The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker’s Guide to Making Travel Sacred, Phil Cousineau writes that “in each of us dwells a pilgrim. It is the part of us that longs to have direct contact with the sacred… What is sacred is what is worthy of our reverence, what evokes awe and wonder in the human heart, and what, when contemplated, transforms us utterly."

The reasons why modern day pilgrims embark on a pilgrimage are very personal and individual. For many, there is a deep desire to touch and connect with the sacred energies that are palpable at sacred sites. Perhaps one has a lingering question and feels drawn to a certain place for answers, or perhaps one wishes to find a community of like-minded spirits by venturing on a pilgrimage with others. There are many soulful reasons why one chooses to go on a pilgrimage rather than just travel some place new. Essentially, pilgrims are spiritual seekers, people who are searching for the divine, a force which can be found in a myriad of spaces. Cousineau describes a pilgrim as a “poetic traveler, one who believes that there is poetry on the road, at the heart of everything."

Phil Cousineau also explains how the sacred can be found all around us if we travel with a certain mindset. "The practice of soulful travel is to discover the overlapping point between history and everyday life, the way to find the essence of every place, every day: in the markets, small chapels, out-of-the-way parks, craft shops. Curiosity about the extraordinary in the ordinary moves the heart of the traveler intent on seeing behind the veil of tourism." If you are able to see, feel and experience the sacred even in the most mundane of things and places, then you are already on your way, you have already become a pilgrim.

There is no better time to begin your sacred pilgrimage than the present. If you have been drawn here and are reading this article, then you have already been called. It is now in your hands to heed this call and respond as you will. I wish you an exciting, enlightening, and transformational journey, wherever the road may lead you.

~ Daniela Masaro

Let the Sun Shine In!

2011-05-09T16:51:00.005-04:00

Today was such a gorgeous, sunny spring day, I couldn’t resist but spend time outdoors, just laying in the grass and listening to the birds chirping away as the warm sun shone down on me. After just a few minutes I felt so alive, so nurtured by Mother Nature, and so full of joy. It’s amazing what a little extra vitamin D can do.

Spending just a few moments outdoors each day not only allows us to reap the benefits of sunshine and fresh air, but it allows us to reconnect with the earth as well. The physical and emotional rewards we receive by spending time in nature are almost immediate, while the spiritual rewards are much more subtle, yet extremely potent all the same.

Do you ever notice how much calmer, more at peace, and more full of joy you are when you are spending a glorious day out in the sun? Is it possible to bottle up this sensation and tap into it when the day isn’t so sunny, both physically and metaphorically? I believe it is with the help of visualization and meditation.

Here are some steps to help you let the sun shine in whenever you need to feel more joy, peace, and tranquillity:

Sit upright or stand in a comfortable position.
Close your eyes and begin to focus on your breath.
Take 3 deep initial breaths and then begin to form a natural breathing rhythm.
Visualize yourself in the natural world – a meadow, a garden, flower filled-fields, the woods, at the beach, etc.
Once you have found your natural setting, see yourself standing in the centre of this location.
Visualize roots beginning to grow out from the bottom of your feet, penetrating deep into the earth.
Follow the roots down into the earth until they arrive at a crystal cave with a shimmering pool.
Visualize your roots wrapping around a large crystal and absorbing the energy.
Visualize the energy being carried up the roots, up into your feet, up your legs, into your centre, through your arms, up your chest, your throat, your face, all the way to the top of your crown.
Visualize a warm, golden sun shining above you with its rays radiating into your crown.
Carry this glowing energy down your face, down your throat, into your heart and chest, into your centre, along your arms, and out to your hands.
Visualize a glowing crystal shield enveloping your body
Continue to breathe in the healing and brilliant light
When you are ready, take 3 deep cleansing breaths, and release the glowing light from your hands into the earth
Give thanks to Mother Earth and Father Sun for their healing, and loving light.

Namaste

~ Daniela Masaro

Conscious Travel

2011-05-05T14:11:00.005-04:00

Travel options are overflowing nowadays with plenty of conscious choices for travellers. From socially and culturally conscious tours to eco-conscious accommodations, people are better able to travel with a comfortable conscience. Yet, how do you stay truly conscious while travelling after you’ve booked your ticket and arrived at your destination?

Being a conscious traveller takes more discipline than you might expect. Being open and aware of all that surrounds you on your travels can be not only over stimulating, but overwhelming as well. A new place, new faces, new sounds, new smells, new tastes, while these can all be very exciting, they can also take their toll on your sanity and consciousness if you are not properly prepared. Some call this experience “culture shock”; I like to call it “a paradigm of new consciousness”.

This experience not only stretches and expands our physical, emotional, and mental boundaries, it forces us to be present, to wake up and really see the world in all its glory. Experiencing something new and different enables us to truly travel consciously. It’s like lighting the spark to a new way of thinking or fanning the flame of enlightenment. When you wake up and look into, and not just at the world, you’ll see not only all the fascinating features that abound, but you’ll also see a reflection of yourself. Now what could be more beautiful and eye opening than that?

While opting for a vacation where you can enter more of a vegetative state and just relax and release stress by lounging around the beach has its perks, choosing to explore, discover, and really live into a destination can be so much more rewarding and rejuvenating. So, do you want to just “sleep” through your vacation or wake up and stay conscious and really take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to gain new insights and knowledge? In the words of Rudolf Steiner: “To truly know the world, look deeply within your own being; to truly know yourself, take real interest in the world."

What kind of traveller do you want to be?

~ Daniela Masaro

Taking the Road Less Travelled

2011-04-29T18:05:00.003-04:00

The lives we lead take us along many different paths. Some paths are straight, some are curved, others are filled with dangerous switchbacks. We encounter strangers on our path, some of which we will never see again, others who become life-long friends. Sometimes our paths cross with the same people time and time again, as if almost by “accident”. Then there are times when we long to bump into a missed connection, but can never make it happen. The one thing that we all have in common though, is that our journey is our own and no two paths are alike.

Whenever I think of life, of all the choices we make and the paths we choose to tread, I am always reminded of Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken and the lines, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference". This poem has always inspired me, as I’m sure it has done for countless others.

We are all faced with choices in life and while it can be less worrisome to choose the safest and most familiar path, sometimes it is worth the adventure of taking the road less travelled. Sure, this can be scary at times, but the reward can also far outweigh the risk.

Even though I do somewhat believe in fate, I also believe in opportunities of free will and choice. We may end up at the same destination at the end of our life, but we can at least choose the path that gets us there. And as they say, the journey is far more important than the destination itself.

So the next time you come at a crossroads in life, take a step back and look carefully at your choices and the opportunities available to you. It might be worth considering taking the road less travelled at least once or twice.

I bid you all happy travels on this journey we call life!

~ Daniela Masaro

Sacred Journeys – A Cure for the Travel Drug

2011-04-19T14:19:00.006-04:00

Having spent most of my professional career working in the travel industry, I’ve met a lot of travellers. Some of them have even become my friends. What I found over and over again was that, to many, travel was like a drug. These people would travel merely for the sake of crossing another destination off their list. There was no satiating this addiction. They would not truly relish their time in a foreign land, getting to know the people, the culture, or the history. They would simply wander around aimlessly, maybe pick up a few souvenirs along the way, and then it would be off to the next place. I find this to be very sad because when you fail to be present in the actual place you are, how could you ever really connect with others, and isn’t that really the whole point of travel – discovering, exploring, connecting?

This is why sacred journeys are so important. Not only do they allow you to really learn about a new place and its people, but they allow you to fully embrace and live into the destination you are visiting. On a sacred journey you’ll not only discover all that is to be found in this fascinating world, but you might even rediscover yourself, the one that you buried under life, work, family, and responsibilities. Imagine how rewarding a journey like this could be. Just think of the cherished gifts and “souvenirs” you would carry home with you and the dead weight you could possibly leave behind you. A sacred journey can help do all this for you and more.

So, the next time you hear someone rambling on and on about all the places they’ve checked into and feel a tinge of envy, ask them what they really embraced about their journey, what they learned, how they connected. What’s more important to you - a checklist of crossed off destinations, or one deeply moving and transformational voyage that helps you to live your life journey with real passion?

~ Daniela Masaro

Travel for Inspiration

2011-04-13T20:21:00.008-04:00

We all get into a rut every now and then. We get overworked, overstressed, and utterly exhausted. There’s no denying it, we’ve all been there before, clawing at the last few moments of time, hoping we could stretch the day just a wee bit longer, finally submitting to defeat. We get completely tapped out to the point we don’t even know what to do with ourselves anymore. Is there's any breaking out of this pattern? What’s my cure for this dis-ease? Travel!

Travel not only gives you a well deserved break from the responsibilities of life, it serves to recharge, rejuvenate, and inspire you in more ways than you can imagine. Travelling to foreign lands allows you to see the world in a whole new way. It opens your eyes widely and brightly and expands your mind to new ideas and thoughts you might not ever have had before. Travel can lift your spirit, open your heart, and strengthen your body; all gifts which we can never get enough of.

Best of all, travel allows you to reconnect with yourself and with your loved ones. Without the worries and stresses of daily life, it is easier to laugh together, play together, and love deeper. And what could be better than sharing the world with the people you cherish most?

Give yourself and others the gift of travel and reap the rewards of a well-deserved break. You’ll find that upon your return you’ll not only have received so much, but you’ll have so much more to give in return.

~ Daniela Masaro

Reaching Out

2011-04-06T21:49:00.007-04:00

"The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers and cities; but to know someone here and there who thinks and feels with us, and though distant, is close to us in spirit — this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden." ~ Goethe"

In a world with a population of almost 7 billion people, it sounds absurd that any of us could ever feel alone, and yet, at some point in our lives, each of us has somehow felt this way. It’s human nature to want to feel connected to someone else, to feel part of a community, and this is why it can be so painful and difficult when one feels alienated, isolated and alone. The most important thing to remember is that there is a world ready to embrace each and every one of us, a world where we are welcome, a world that is truly home.

The other day I watched an inspirational video of singers joining in song from all across the globe. Some of the singers’ thoughts were shared in the video and what struck me was how this community, albeit a virtual one, was so important to so many individuals. Raising their voices in song, this choir of 2000 voices rang out in a symphony so pure and so true, it move me to my inner core. It was a perfect example of how reaching out to each other could stretch out and touch the heart of those who were not even part of the original community. Somehow, listening to this chorus made me feel connected to each individual. It was simply beautiful.

Reaching out to others through travel is another way people can build community with people across the earth. It’s amazing how perfect strangers can so suddenly feel like family. This is the beauty of travel. It is not only a journey to a foreign place, but it is an inner journey that links you with the heart and spirit of others; and it is for this reason, that travel can be so transformational.

So the next time you are feeling a little isolated and alone, remember there is a world of people out there waiting and wanting to get to know you, all you need to do is take that first step forward and reach out.

~ Daniela Masaro

Overcoming Fear

2011-03-29T19:12:00.008-04:00

Fear in itself is a scary thing. It stops you dead in your tracks, holds you back, and keeps you from experiencing life. Many have attributed being afraid to not accomplishing something in life and fear is often an obstacle when thinking about venturing into the unknown. So how does one overcome fear? Where does one begin? It begins with yourself and the power of your own thoughts, beliefs and philosophies.

The good news is fear is very subjective and really all about mind over matter. Fear is only tangible for the person who has created it. The bad news is, you have to put in some effort to overcome it. This begins with changing your thought patterns, your beliefs and philosophies about life. If you see something as a fear, try looking at it as a challenge to overcome, rather than a daunting and unbearable experience.

Let’s take travel as an example. I’ve been planning a solo trip for the past few months and a question I have encountered time and time again is “aren’t you afraid of travelling on your own?” My answer is simply, “no”. How could I be alone when I am surrounded by a world full of people? Travel is not a thing to be feared; it is an adventure to be embraced, whether you are joined by familiar faces or not. Strangers can easily become friends. Unknown destinations you have never visited before can instantly become a new home. Challenging situations can become wonderful opportunities for growth. Change your perspective and the world will suddenly appear to be a much more welcome and safer place to explore.

Embrace the world that is before you and release whatever is holding you back. I leave you with the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “He who is not everday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life”.

~Daniela Masaro

Travel Lightly

2011-03-24T20:10:00.007-04:00

“It's not the load that breaks you down. It's the way you carry it.” Lena Horne

When Halle Berry paid tribute to Lena Horne at the Oscars this year and made reference to this quote I couldn’t help but see the parallels between travel and life.

For anyone who has ever carried a backpack you’ll understand the importance of travelling lightly. But what other things do we carry on our backs that weigh us down? Perhaps it’s time to shed those layers too. I’m convinced that we spend the first part of our life building ourselves up only to spend the rest of our life dismantling everything to get back to where we started - in terms of who we really are – in essence. Our bodies will force us to do that anyway – as we age and slow down – but the trick will be to do so with awareness and grace. And it’s never too early to begin.

What do I want to carry with me into my older years and beyond? Certainly not possessions. I’ve travelled enough and moved houses too many times to know that they are too cumbersome and costly to transport. And personal baggage is a much bigger burden.

Usually my medical kit and pen and paper are my necessities of travel, within my backpack, but even those can be lost, stolen, or abandoned. Therefore the only essential item I really need to carry is trust. Trust that everything will be alright. We come into this world that way and we’ll leave it that way. So why do we lose it enroute? Yes, the load of life sometimes does get quite heavy and we may not see how we’ll shoulder it but we must not give up trust that everything will be alright, one way or another. It’s all that we have to hold onto – that cannot be taken away from us. Carry on we must but, as with everything, it’s all about how we do it. Tread softly and surely...one step at a time.

~Christine Overvelde

Lessons for the Day

2011-03-19T15:21:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I learned 3 important lessons: patience is overrated, spontaneity can be dangerous, and flexibility is the key to happiness. Of course there is some humour and “tongue in cheekiness” in this remark, but also some truth.

While I have been striving to be more patient all my life, I find that being practical, assertive, and motivated are also important essentials if you want to accomplish anything in this life. Sometimes people replace patience with procrastination, which sadly leads to stagnation. So while you’re waiting for the universe to fulfill all your dreams and wishes for you, you might as well get in there and help the universe along by actually taking an active role in bringing your goals to fruition. Time is precious so don’t waste it waiting for something to happen when you can make it happen for yourself. Of course, it is important to still be patient and open, (you can’t always rush something into happening just because you want it now), but don’t let this be your fallback plan or excuse.

I’m all for being spontaneous and most of my friends consider me the adventurous one, but sometimes spontaneity leads to disappointment. Leaping without thinking, changing your mind incessantly to keep yourself and others on their toes, and forgoing planning can be a recipe for disaster. If something is important to you, set things in place, make your mark, plan, but be open to a new idea or a new adventure when it comes up. Let spontaneity strike you as an exciting surprise when you are in alignment with your life’s path, rather than expecting moments to just appear out of nowhere only to slap you in the face with reality.

Now, it may seem that there is some contradiction in what is mentioned above so I take you to lesson number 3 – flexibility is key. I like to attribute flexibility to a more balanced life, for if you can’t be flexible, compromising or adaptable, how will you ever hope to achieve any balance in your life? Flexibility allows us to be less rigid, more open, and more active so that we can retain the elements of patience and spontaneity in a healthy and constructive way.

So be like Gumby my friends; be flexible and be happy!

~ Daniela Masaro

Spring Forward

2011-03-13T14:24:00.004-04:00

Today we spring forward and set our clocks ahead an hour. That’s supposed to mean we lose an hour’s sleep, but I held on to mine this morning anyway. We could all use the extra rest. Now that spring is in the air it got me thinking of the dewy smell of the fresh earth, birds chirping, buds peeking out, and yes, even spring cleaning. It’s time to get rid of the clutter – out with the old and in with the new, I say! And while we’re de-cluttering our homes and closets this time of year, why not do a little personal spring cleaning on yourself as well. This is the best time of year to detoxify and revitalize your body, mind and spirit.

It’s hard not to pack on the pounds over the winter; it’s cold, it’s dreary, and we find ourselves eating heavier and more starchy foods which contribute to that extra weight gain. Spring is the best time of year to shed those extra pounds and get your body ready for the summer. The best way to cleanse the system is with a detoxifying diet and fast. Drink lots of water with drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice, eat a bunch of fresh fruits and vegetables, and try staying away from carbs and red meat. Once you’ve passed that hurdle, you might want to intensify the diet by eating only raw vegetables for a few days accompanied by lemon water. Spring cleaning your body will help give you that needed boost of energy to help you feel healthier, rejuvenated, invigorated, and more alive. Plus, the benefits it will have on your overall skin and appearance is another welcome bonus.

Cleaning our minds might be a little more difficult as this requires discipline. While spring seems to be one of the busiest seasons, it’s also the most important time to recharge and refresh the mind. Many people go into a kind of mental hibernation during the winter and fall into a pattern of stagnation. When spring rolls around, you almost don’t know what to do with yourself anymore. Tap into the vibrant and buzzing energy on the earth and allow it to jolt you into a more alert mental state. Once your body has cleansed, you’ll find yourself thinking more clearly, feeling more inspired, and being more creative. Let spring put a spring in your step and help you make a shift in your thinking patterns so you can begin to live the life you desire.

Spirit is always replenished when we give of ourselves and share with others. Spring is the perfect time to do this. After clearing out your closets and homes, find what you don’t really need or use and donate it to charity and those less fortunate, or just give it away to someone you know will make use of it. Not only will you be getting rid of the physical and energetic clutter in your life which is weighing you down, but you will also be welcoming and clearing the space for new and wonderful things to enter into your life. Sharing with others will allow your entire being to feel lighter, happier, and more at peace.

So don’t just spring forward this spring, spring up, down and all around. Let the creative juices flow into you and the lively energy of the season inspire and motivate you to a brighter and happier life.

~ Daniela Masaro

Presence in Busy Times

2011-03-03T19:56:00.010-05:00

Life has been busy for me lately, very busy. I barely have time to do menial and necessary chores like laundry and grocery shopping, but of course I need to fit them in somehow. A girl’s gotta eat, after all. With all my attention being stripped away for work and duties and chores, I’ve been feeling that my presence has been slipping away as well. Or has it? Just by acknowledging the fact that I am feeling this way proves to me I am actually present and to me this is good news; they say acknowledgement is the first step, so I think I’m on the right track. Becoming aware that my time is so limited right now has also forced me to become more creative in finding ways to de-stress and retain some sort of balance and peace in my life. What I have found during these busy times is that, although I do not currently have the luxury of lots of free time to do as I please, nor the energy to do anything if I did, I am able to find a sense of peace and joy with simplicity.

Realising that I’m most definitely not the only one experiencing a lack of free time these days, I thought I’d share some of my simple and creative ways of remaining present, peaceful, joyful, and calm during these stressful and busy times.

Breath is Life
Ever notice how when you’re running around or feeling really stressed out you feel out of breath? At times, you may even notice you are actually holding your breath. It’s a strange, yet common phenomenon. Luckily, our bodies are sophisticated enough to allow us to breathe even though we sometimes forget to do it for ourselves, but becoming aware of our breath can help us immensely in feeling present and at peace. The next time you are feeling overwhelmed, pause and just take a few deep breaths. You’ll be amazed how great you’ll feel afterwards. So even though you might not have a full hour or even a half hour for a deep breathing meditation, taking some long, deep breaths throughout the day will help you to feel calmer and happier.

Water is Healing - Water Replenishes
Enjoying the benefits of water is a wonderful and easy way to achieve a sense of calm and balance in your life. Drinking water throughout the day not only nourishes your body, but your spirit too. Staying hydrated and refreshed helps your mind be more alert, allowing you to think more clearly and perform more efficiently. A soothing bath or lingering hot shower are also great ways to de-stress and enjoy a little “me time”. While in the bath, dim the lights, light a few candles and just let go. If you feel like this is too indulgent, remind yourself that bathing is necessary. Believe me, you’ll not only appreciate these few extra moments in the tub or under the shower’s rainfall, but those around you will thank you too.

The Sound of Music
Music always helps me feel more at peace, regardless of the genre. When I’m feeling low on energy and like I’m beginning to pass into a coma, I turn on some energetic electronic or pop music and find myself instantly bopping my head and dancing in my chair. At the end of the day, when I want to just relax and quiet myself to lull myself to sleep, a little classical or new age music really helps soothe me to the very core. So, the next time you feel your mood is not what it should be, tune in to your favourite music, and tune out the chaos of the day.

What a Surprise!
I usually pack my lunch for work and even though I barely have time to make myself a decent lunch, I always try to throw in an extra “treat” to have later in the day. By the time lunchtime rolls around, I’m usually feeling the doldrums of the day, and sometimes can’t even remember what I’ve packed myself to eat. Seeing the little treat I packed along with my lunch when I open it up instantly perks me up (and the extra sugar doesn’t hurt either). It may sound silly, but somehow seeing a snack or dessert in my lunch bag takes me back to childhood when my mom would include a little treat with my lunch. That moment of nostalgia is an instant “pick me up” and a reminder that I am special and helps me carry on with the rest of my day. So, take that extra minute in the morning to throw in a little treat and show yourself how much you mean to you.

Laughter is the Best Medicine
“They’ve” been telling us this for ages, and finally “they” got it right it this time. Without going into a lengthy science lecture on how laughter works on biophysical, biochemical, and biogenergetic levels, I will say that laughter has been scientifically proven to improve our physical and mental health. So the next time you’re feeling down and out or utterly exhausted, just laugh it out. You don’t even have to laugh at anything funny, just let go and laugh and be sure to spread the joy by laughing near others because laughter is one of those mysterious contagious tendencies we just can’t resist.

It shouldn’t and doesn’t take much to feel present and in the moment, nor should it take any more effort to make yourself feel special and happy. When times get busy and you don’t even know where to begin to make yourself slow down, remember these simple ideas. With time, you’ll find yourself coming up with new and innovative ways to feel present, peaceful, joyful, and calm no matter how stressful life gets.

~Daniela Masaro

Stretch Your Body, Mind & Spirit With Yoga

2011-02-23T19:26:00.007-05:00

After a lengthy hiatus, late last year I restarted doing yoga and committed to a regular practice as one of my resolutions for the New Year. This decision has been one of the greatest things I could do for myself as it’s allowed me to create a more balanced and healthy life. I normally spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer for work, which is never a good thing, but during the winter, I find I become a near hermit just to avoid the cold and dreary weather, which I have never been a fan of. I found that the lack of fresh air and movement was not only becoming a detriment to my physical health, but it was also taking a toll on my emotional and mental wellbeing as well. In order to motivate me to face the wind and snow, I thought hot yoga would be a great way to get in shape while indulging in some intense heat, and boy was I right. While the classes were really intense for me in the beginning, I found my strength and flexibility beginning to improve within just a few weeks. Not only am I loving the balmy studio temperatures which are providing me with a welcome respite from this cold winter, but I’m loving the way yoga has helped me to stretch my body, mind and spirit to new lengths.

Here are some of the ways yoga can help you on all 3 levels:

Body
Yoga movements and asanas help the body develop strength, flexibility and balance. A regular practice will improve respiration, energy and vitality as well as circulation and cardiovascular health. The postures also help to maintain a more balanced metabolism allowing one to improve body definition, and help with weight loss. Symptoms of asthma, insomnia, chronic pain, and muscular tension are greatly improved with a regular practice allowing for enhanced daily function as well as better sleep at night. Yoga not only helps you feel more vital and rejuvenated, it actually helps you look younger too.

Mind
The mental benefits of yoga are infinite. Yoga helps to quiet and still the mind so that one can focus on transferring energy where it is required and intended to go. I have found that not only does the endless chatter in my brain dissipate while I’m practicing yoga; it also helps increase my focus and attention throughout the remainder of my day as well. Others have also claimed that their yoga practices allow them to relieve stress and handle stressful situations in a much more positive way as yoga encourages positive thoughts and a more upbeat view of life. A regular practice has also been proven to be extremely curative and helpful in relieving anxiety, depression and other chronic emotional disturbances.

Spirit
The way yoga affects the spirit is a very individual process as we are all such unique beings of light. Many yogis, however, find a common characteristic in that yoga helps them to feel more connected to others. By sharing our presence in a communal practice, we also share our energy and spirits. We learn how to build our awareness of others and ourselves, and learn to trust other individuals and surrender to feel part of a greater whole.

If you are looking to make a positive change in your life but don’t know where to start, I highly recommend yoga. Not only will you begin to look and feel better, you will begin to see yourself and the world in a whole new light, a winning combination for all concerned.

Namaste

~Daniela Masaro

Anticipation

2011-02-16T19:31:00.012-05:00

Anticipation can sometimes be a blessing and a curse when it comes to planning a holiday. The most challenging, fun, stressful, exciting, and transformational times can occur before our trips even begin. Every traveller, no matter how seasoned, has been there before. First the idea, the dream, the destination! Everything is bliss. Then suddenly, overwhelming excitement just becomes a feeling of overwhelming all on its own. Plans to be made, things to do, details to be taken care of; at the end of it all we are definitely in need of a vacation. However, this time of anticipation is actually part of the journey in itself and a wonderful opportunity for growth and transformation.

We are often told that we must be participants in our own lives, but being observers is just as necessary. So many things go by us in a blur because we are doing, doing, doing, that we miss out on so many lessons and so much beauty because we forget to stop and actually observe. During this time of anticipation, it is so important to pause and observe, and if at all possible, journal. Stepping outside and watching ourselves as an outsider can be very revealing and enlightening. Recording the process from the conception of the idea to the actual destination and beyond can be a wonderful learning tool to help make the most of your journey.

Whether you find the waiting game excruciating or thrilling, do try and make the very most of your time between now and the day you finally depart. Remember that it is ALL part of the journey, so be aware, be present, be open, and reap the rewards of anticipation to the fullest!

~Daniela Masaro

Envisioning 2011 and beyond...

2011-02-08T20:09:00.016-05:00

January has come and gone and we are now fully into 2011. Resolutions can be delayed no longer (although many people have probably already given up on the ones they made prior), and we must begin to activate our goals and dreams for the year. You’ve got to dream it to do it, I say! With this in mind, I begin to think of the many methods we can use to envision 2011 to help manifest all our dreams and goals and make them a reality. A few different ideas came to mind and I thought I’d share some of the tips I’ve learned from friends and acquaintances as well as some of my own.

I was speaking with a friend of mine recently who started the year off by welcoming several dreams of hers into her life. Not only did she dream her dreams, and invite the universe to assist her in making them possible, but she took an active role in manifesting them as well. The method she used was a “vision board”, which Wikipedia defines as a “simple but powerful visualization tool that activates the universal law of attraction to begin manifesting your dreams into reality”. She attributes her recent encounter with a great love, and the soon to be move to a country she’s always wanted to live in, to her vision board and relentless belief in herself and the gifts of the universe.

Another friend of mine is big on making detailed lists and putting her dreams and goals for the year down in writing. She does this every New Year’s Eve and continues to update and make new lists throughout the year. Many spiritual teachers have also recommended writing in red ink because red represents life, creation, beginning, inspiration, and passion, along with movement and circulation. I’m also big on lists and do this quite often. Aside from writing lists in red ink, I at times also create a little ritual and then burn the list and blow the ashes into the air (best done outdoors, of course), so that they are carried off by the wind and into the heavens, ready to be recreated tangibly on the earth.

I also met one woman last year who, rather than creating a complete vision board or a thorough list of dreams and goals, would post inspirational words and phrases, photographs, magazine cutouts, and sketches and doodles all around the house – stuck on bathroom and bedroom mirrors, taped to doors and walls, magnetized to the fridge, etc. This way she was constantly reminded about the things she wanted to bring into her life, thus having these dreams ceaselessly in her consciousness. This might be a bit overwhelming to some, but for those who need constant reminders to get themselves motivated, this technique may be the winner.

I think positive affirmations are also worth mentioning here. Our “self-talk” is so often negative and unproductive (and then we wonder why nothing good ever happens). Flipping the conversations we have with ourselves, and with others, to be positive and encouraging is sometimes easier said than done, but with practice, this too can be a great way to manifest our dreams. Begin by writing down a couple of positive phrases about things you want in your life right now, and then make a habit of repeating them throughout the day. The best way to do this is by association, for example, one phrase can be said in your mind over and over again while brushing your teeth, another while you’re riding the bus or driving to work, another at meal times, and then a final one before bed. By “scheduling” a few positive thoughts throughout the day, you will find that you will begin to speak to yourself in a much more encouraging and motivating way naturally.

And share your dreams with your friends and all the people you talk to. For example, I love to travel and always have it on my mind. I’m constantly researching destinations online, flipping through travel books, checking out travel websites, imagining all the things I’ll do when I get to my dream destination, and then I talk about it relentlessly as if I’ve already planned the trip and made all the reservations. Sure, some people might find it annoying and tire with hearing you talk about all the fabulous places you will one day visit, but don’t worry about that, you’ll forget all about it when you’re off on your dream vacation and they’ll be thanking you when you bring back a souvenir to make up for your incessant babble. Better yet, join a travel forum and chat with other people who are as passionate about travel as you are. This way, not only will you not be driving your friends and family crazy, but you might also make new friends and learn about some other great places to add to your list as well. Win – win!

Whatever method you choose, the key is to actually choose something and stick with it; persistence is essential. As Goethe so eloquently states, "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”

~Daniela Masaro

The Power of Peace and Grace

2011-02-01T19:40:00.007-05:00

I’ve been hearing so many negative stories on the news lately that it is beginning to bum me out. From the civil unrest going on in Egypt right now to the recent news stories of the savage slaughter of sled dogs because tourism slowed down in BC after the Olympics, my mind and heart are becoming a bit overwhelmed. Thus, I turn to spirit to give me strength, peace and grace.

Curious about how others define peace and grace, and being ever so practical, I looked the words up in the dictionary. Here’s one of the definitions that resonated with me for peace: “freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquillity; serenity.” This really resounded with me, for only when we are free, can we truly feel at peace. There were also many definitions for the word grace, but this is the one that struck me as the most true: “the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.” At this time, I pray that we can all be blessed with both peace and grace.

But when the world is in such turmoil, how can we still achieve these feelings of peace and grace? To ignore what is happening and stick our heads in the sand is not the answer, but to revolt against all that causes us pain and suffering seems just as futile to me; for when would the fighting finally cease if we were to take up arms in response to all our personal injustices, along with all the injustices in the world? While I am not entirely a pacifist, I find the best answer for me right now is to find peace and grace within myself, and encourage others to do so as well. I wholeheartedly believe that if we all stop to pause, reflect, and go within to find a sense of peace and grace, then this will begin to spread throughout the world like wildfire. Could peace and love not be just as contagious as the negative things that are strewn across the Earth? I do hope so.

And so, my dear bothers and sisters, I ask you to join me in taking a few moments to pause, reflect, meditate, and radiate peace and grace upon the earth. Let us harness this power to allow our energies to unite and be cast out into the world like a plague of goodwill and love.

May peace be with you, and with us all.

~Daniela Masaro

Peruvian Markets

2011-01-26T19:13:00.005-05:00

I’ve travelled to many countries across 5 continents so far and each place I go to, I am always on the lookout for a great local market. I’m not a big fan of shopping malls, nor am I a fan of crowds; however, I can’t keep from immersing myself in the hustle and bustle of a great local market. Yes, I’m a bit of a contradiction, I know; but a good local market is where all the local action is at. You can learn so much about the people, their culture, their language, their traditions, all by hanging out at the market. You can also discover incredible local delicacies, exotic fruits, delicious vegetables, and the most interesting local snack foods. It’s an absolute “foodie’s” paradise and a complete cultural haven. What tops any local market for me is a market exhibiting a vast collection of handicrafts by local artisans. The craftsmanship and artistry that can be found at these markets is astounding. It’s also the best place to pick up gifts for friends and families and souvenirs for yourself to remind you of your amazing adventure for many years to come.

One of the best handicrafts markets I encountered on my travels was the Mercado Indio in the suburb of Miraflores in Lima, Peru. I’m still kicking myself for not having picked up more of the wonderful treasures I found there. From vibrant textiles, to jewellery, alpaca clothing to paintings, this market had it all. Every time I moved from stall to stall I felt a surge of excitement build up as they were all so very different. I’ve been to plenty of markets where you see the same thing over and over again, but here, everything was so unique and exquisite. A few of my cherished souvenirs included a gorgeous sterling silver choker necklace, an alpaca woollen sweater, alpaca hat and gloves, a beautiful painting, a colourful woven blanket, and the most darling embroidered pot holder which has now been hung in the kitchen as artwork. To top it off, the locals were so very friendly and accommodating as I struggled with my Spanish, which at the time was quite bad. I enjoyed pleasant conversations with them, tried to understand the interesting stories told to me by some of the elders, and giggled with the children who welcomed me to play. And while all my experiences in Peru were remarkable, visiting that market still remains one of my favourite memories from my holiday.

Peru is a paradise for handicraft lovers so I can’t just mention the Mercado Indio without naming others, so here are a couple more fantastic local markets you must check out while in Peru:

Pisac Market

Pisac, a village in the Sacred Valley on the Urubamba River, is renowned for its wonderful artisan market that takes place every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Tourists flock here from nearby Cusco and locals abound as well. The town’s main square is filled to the brim on market days and the stalls are fully stocked with a vast array of local handicrafts from alpaca clothing, paintings, jewellery, weavings, paintings, pottery and more. This is definitely one market to scour when in the area.

Chinchero Market

Chinchero’s Sunday market is another great place to find local handicrafts and treasures. While it is smaller and lesser know than the markets in Miraflores or Pisac, there is still an abundance of unique gifts to purchase. Here you will also delight in seeing the indigenous Andean people in their traditional clothing, bartering and going about their business. A wonderful cultural experience!

Markets aside, Peru remains one of the top destinations I’ve visited and a place I’d like to one day return. There is so much to see and do here whatever your interest. Whether you are an active adventurer keen on hiking the Inca Trail and exploring the majestic mountains and valleys, or a pilgrim intent on discovering the magic and mystery of the ancient peoples, or simply an explorer happy to take in the sights, learn more about the culture and the people, Peru has it all.

~Daniela Masaro

The Slow Road

2011-01-18T19:07:00.005-05:00

As the snow falls out my window, covering the landscape in a blanket of white, I feel a wave of peace and serenity wash over me. Sitting here by the window, watching the fluffy flakes drifting gently to the ground, my thoughts begin to drift away as well. I’m snowed in and have nowhere to go, so I remind myself that it is important to pause and reflect and enjoy all the beauty that surrounds me. Maybe this is spirit’s way of telling me to take some time off.

In a world that is moving at lightning speed, how often do we really stop to appreciate what is around us? We rush through our mornings as we prepare to go to work, we race to get the kids ready for school barely pausing to embrace them and see how much they’ve grown since yesterday, and we weave our way through traffic to get everywhere on time. What does it take to slow us down, besides a rude awakening from the universe? Hopefully we have the strength and will to stop before it’s too late.

These days, I am reminding myself often to slow down, to be patient, to just be. I’m taking time for me. Whether it’s an extra 15 minutes in a relaxing bath, another chapter in a book I can’t bear to put down, another song off a favourite CD, or an extra 10 minutes at the dinner table to really savour my meal, I’m revelling in these simple moments.

I’m especially travelling in a different way now too. Rather than hopping from one spot to another, snapping photos incessantly at anything that looks remotely interesting, and trying to get in as many tourist attractions as I can manage in one trip, I am taking the slow road. I am stopping to giggle at the little lizard scampering across my wall, I am taking time to make conversation with the locals as best as I can manage with a foreign language, I am perusing the markets slowly, looking for that one amazing souvenir rather than buying everything I can get my hands on, and I am pausing to soak in the energy at sacred sites, listening for the wisdom of the ancients being whispered in the wind. This is what it means to me to be present – relishing each and every moment, no matter how great or small.

As I now watch the snow plough begin to clear the road, I realize spirit is agreeing with me. For it is when we have these brief instances of enlightenment that the path opens up, clearing the way for us. And even though I should get to the grocery store and bank before the end of day, I think I’ll take a few more moments for myself to plan my next getaway.

~Daniela Masaro

Vulnerability - a necessary part of travel and life

2011-01-10T15:33:00.006-05:00

Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. ~ Helen Keller

I was listening to Brené Brown’s Ted talk about vulnerability and couldn’t help but see the connection to travel.

For when we travel we put ourselves out there and face the unknown. We have no guarantee that all will be well. In fact, we know a lot can happen, and indeed will happen, on our journey. But we do it anyway. Why?

Although Brené Brown surmised that one’s embrace of vulnerability had something to do with the need for connection, I would add that, in a traveller’s case, it also relates to faith and intuition. I believe we travel, or take any large steps for that matter, because we not only feel compelled to do so, deep down, but we also have faith that all will work out in the end. And, similarly we trust. We trust the call and we trust we will be supported along the way.

This reminds me of the time I came upon a young woman, alone on a pilgrimage trail, in the middle of India. My intuition told me to fully stop and engage her in conversation instead of just walking past and saying “hello”. As I did so, she suddenly remarked that she did not feel so well and in the next moment I was catching her in my arms as she fainted. I was amazed at how things added up so that I was exactly in that spot, at exactly that right moment, to save her. She fully recognized her vulnerability once she regained consciousness, travelling alone in a foreign country, but, to her credit, she did not react in fear. She experienced the loving kindness of humanity instead.

And so, we have no choice but to accept vulnerability if we are to live life fully and deeply. With faith, intuition and trust, it propels us forward.

http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html

Appreciating this Sacred Earth

2010-11-15T02:31:00.006-05:00

Yesterday’s topic, about scientists recently conducting tests to prove that nature is good for children, is a wake-up call that something is not right in the world. What’s most disturbing is the fact that these studies are simply being done to see if students get better grades if exposed to nature. Nothing was mentioned about health benefits or overall well-being.

Perhaps we can read this as a sign that modern day society has stopped viewing the Earth as a sacred life force, and healing source, of which we all are a part. It goes without saying that if we humans fail to see this, and value it as such, then it will ultimately be the end of us. But how & when did we get off-track?

Indigenous cultures have always had a strong connection to nature and appreciated its spiritual essence. Mountains, trees, and water have held particular attraction and energy. Many pilgrimages have been made to such sites and shrines and temples have been built in reverence. And not too long ago, in western spheres, doctors used to prescribe rests in the country-side or at the sea-shore or springs for recuperation. Now they recommend a pill.

Understandably, not everyone can afford an extended period away. Therefore, all the more reason to keep some form of nature in our own everyday existence and allow the time & space for it. That said, it’s still very important to explore beyond our backyards and travel down new paths. It’s this sense of adventure, discovery, focus, and awe, of nature and something bigger than us, which will really ignite the minds of those schoolchildren. And we’ll all be better off for it regardless whether or not it translates to better grades.

Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books. ~ John Lubbock

Happy Diwali! Let the Light shine.

2010-11-08T00:39:00.004-05:00

Celebrations are such wonderful demonstrations of the human spirit; full of great generosity and gratitude. Diwali has all these elements and more. It pays respect to, and references, several historical achievements of good triumphing over evil, but like other autumn traditions, common across many cultures, it’s a Festival of Light.

As the harvest ends and the sunlight dwindles into winter darkness, it’s a time to light lamps – to warm our hearts and our homes. This act also symbolizes the Inner Light within us. With such awareness and recognition, good deeds and offerings are made.

As I reflect upon all the elements of this joyful occasion, of freedom, prosperity, well-being, and new beginnings, I can’t help but notice that the timing coincides with Burma’s long-awaited elections and Aung San Suu Kyi’s upcoming release. I can only hope that the Burmese people will someday celebrate their own such Festival of Light and Freedom.

Halloween's Sacred Roots

2010-11-01T01:33:00.009-04:00

Here's an interesting article highlighting some of the spirit of Halloween.

The History of Halloween or What is Samhain?

Author: Vivienne D’Avalon

Samhain, pronounced sow-wen, is a Celtic word meaning “summer’s end.” It is also the Irish Gaelic word for the month of November. Samhain is the last of three harvest festivals in the Celtic year, and it is the Celtic New Year. The Celts only recognized two seasons: summer, and winter. So, with the last harvest, the summer ends, and the cold, dark, dangerous days of winter begin. Any food that was not brought in from the fields by the end of the day on October 31, Samhain, was left in the fields and not eaten. It was considered to belong to the fairy folk at that point, and would make anyone sick who tried to eat it.

The food in the storerooms by this time was all the food you were going to get between this first day of winter and the coming spring. It had to last through the cold, dark winter months. Starvation was always a possibility. Livestock was slaughtered at this time, both to preserve meat for the winter months, and to cull the herd. With fewer animals to feed, the ones that were left would have a better chance of survival until spring. This is one reason why death and the dead are associated with this day.

Facing the long, deadly winter, unsure of your food supply, with no central heating, you would have to brave the elements and the dangers of the forest to gather all the wood you would need to keep yourself warm. With the days getting shorter and shorter, you would start wondering if the sun was ever going to come back. The wild animals would get hungrier and more aggressive as the winter got harder for everyone. All made this day, marking the beginning of the winter season, one of fear and danger. But it was also a day of celebration, akin to the American Thanksgiving — thanking the gods for the blessings of a bountiful harvest.

To the Celts, “between” times and places were very important. At these points, the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest, and communication between the fairy realm, the land of the dead, and the human world is much easier. “Between” places include doorways between one room and another, or between inside and outside; or the seashore, marking the meeting of earth and sea. “Between” times include dusk and dawn, marking the transitions from night to day, and day to night; and in more recent centuries, midnight, representing the transition between one calendar day and the next.

The transitions between seasons are even more important “between” times. The transition from winter to summer at Beltaine (May 1), and the transition from summer to winter at Samhain, were the two most important days of the Celtic year; but Samhain was the most important, because it also marked the transition from one year to the next. Ergo, it is at this time that the veil between the worlds is thinnest, and communication between the world of the living and the world of our deceased ancestors, the fairy folk, and other spirits is easiest. This is also a good night for divination for that reason.

At this harvest celebration, when the veil between the world of the living and the dead is at its thinnest, one’s ancestors are therefore honored and venerated. Hospitality was very important to the ancient Celts. They would leave food out on their hearth, or out on their front step, as an offering to the spirits of their ancestors, whom they believed would visit them on this night. Offerings of food or milk were also left out for the fairies, and some Wiccans today invite fairy beings into their homes to share their hospitality with them for the winter. The Celts also extended this hospitality to wandering travelers and beggars, because Celts considered it very bad luck to withhold hospitality from anyone in need.

But the thinness of the veil between the worlds also allowed more dangerous spirits to wander into the human realm, so Samhain was also a time of fear and foreboding. These two ideas influenced our modern custom of “trick or treating” at Halloween (our modern name for Samhain). Today, wandering beggars in the form of children, dress up as horrible spirits that go from door to door begging for food, and threatening pranks if they are not appeased. That is a very recent tradition, however, invented in America.[1]

The carved pumpkins we call jack-o’-lanterns also have their root in ancient hospitality. The Celts did not have pumpkins in the Old World, as we have here in America; pumpkin is a New World fruit. So rather than carving pumpkins, the Celts used turnips and gourds. They hollowed out the inside, and put candles in them to create a lantern. Then they would set a light out each evening to let any wandering strangers know that hospitality was available at that particular home. However, to frighten away the evil spirits that might also be out wandering, these home owners would take the precaution to carve ugly faces into the lanterns, to scare anything nasty away.

Many ancient pagan holidays, including those of the Celts, were adapted by the Christian church in an attempt to convert pagans to Christianity. Many of the traditions of Yule, such as the decorated evergreen tree, became the traditions of Christmas. Many of the traditions of the spring equinox, such as decorating eggs, became customs of Easter. And many practices of Samhain became the traditions of Halloween.[2]

“Hallow” means “sacred.” For example, “hallowed ground” means a place that has been blessed and is appropriate for burial. The suffix “-een” is short for “evening,” the night before a holiday. Halloween, like our New Year’s Eve, is therefore the celebration before the actual holiday, in this case November 1, dubbed “All Saints Day” by the Catholic Church. Halloween is also known as “All Souls Day,” following the tradition that this is a time to celebrate the dead and commemorate them.

There are several misconceptions and outright lies that are spread by religious fundamentalists about Samhain every year, in an attempt to get Halloween banned. The first is that the holiday is of Druidic origin; the Druids were a priestly class of the Celts, but they were a very late manifestation of the Celtic religion. The Celts were practicing their religion for thousands of years before the priestly class of the Druids developed.

Another misconception is that the ancient Romans adopted Samhain and added their traditions to it; however, the traditions of Halloween, as we know them, have come down to us from Ireland. Ireland was never conquered by the Romans. Samhain was also celebrated by the Picts in Scotland, but the Picts were never conquered by the Romans, either. The only territory in the British Isles that the Romans successfully conquered was England.

Another error is that Samhain is pronounced Sam Hane and is the name of a Celtic god of the dead. The Celts had no god of the dead.[3] Samhain is also not pronounced that way, it is pronounced “Sow-ween,” due to the odd way Irish Gaelic ended up being spelled when written in English letters. There is a very minor character in Celtic mythology that has a name with a similar spelling, but he has nothing to do with death or with that particular holiday.

Some people also claim that at this holiday the souls of the dead were supposed to move into the bodies of animals if they had been “sinful,” and that human sacrifice was practiced. The Celts did not believe in sin, nor in reincarnation or the transmigration of souls. The Celts also did not practice human sacrifice, with the exception of the execution of criminals, which we still practice in America today.

Halloween in America is now a completely secular holiday. Though it still maintains some of its harvest festival roots, there is no longer any religious or spiritual significance to the practices of bobbing for apples, trick or treating, and dressing up in costume.

Samhain, however, is still observed by Wiccans and other Pagans for its spiritual significance in the Wheel of the Year, the cycle of holidays that mark transition points in the natural solar cycle.

***

[1] Because Samhain represented the transition between years, it could not belong to one year or the next. Since time did not technically exist during this period, other societal rules were suspended as well, creating the necessary atmosphere to allow people to vent frustrations, often by playing practical jokes on each other. This may be the precursor to the pranks practiced at Halloween today.

[2] A lot of the associations of Halloween, from black cats to dressing up in costumes, to witches, are more associated with Germanic tradition and Walpurgisnacht, which is associated with May Day, rather than the Celtic tradition or Samhain.

[3] A couple of sources list Gwynn ap Nudd as a British god of the dead, and Arawn as a Welsh god of the dead, but there is no Irish equivalent.

***

Bibliography

Isaac Bonewitz, “The Real Origins of Halloween,” version 4.5, © 1997 and 2002, http://www.neopagan.net/halloween-origins-text.html, downloaded 9/19/03.

“Halloween Errors and Lies, or What Fundamentalist Christians Don’t Want You to Know,” version 4.4, © 1997, 2002; http://www.neopagan.net/halloween-lies.html, 9/19/03.

B.A. Robinson, “the Myth of Samhain, Celtic God of the Dead,” © 1998-2001 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, last updated 10/19/01, http://www.religioustolerance.org/hallow_sa.htm, 9/19/03.

W.J. Bethancourt, III, “Halloween: Myths, Monsters and Devils,” © 1994, updated 10/7/01; http://www.illusions.com/halloween/hallows.htm, 9/19/03.

Rowan Moonstone, “the Origins of Halloween.” http://www.geocities.com/athens/forum/5452/hallorig.html, 9/19/03.

The Call to Heal the Earth

2010-10-25T03:14:00.005-04:00

Sometimes we are called to places we had no intentions of visiting. Have you ever been somewhere and asked yourself why am I here?

I recently had such an experience when I was in London. The trip chose me and it came about unexpectedly. I was asked to help guide a theatre tour and jumped at the opportunity. Part of the trip involved the usual tourist attractions which I normally avoid. Therefore, I was “forced” to take in the Royal palaces, castles, and forts. I felt a little uneasy viewing such treasures acquired by questionable means but for some reason I lingered at each location. I couldn’t help but wonder why I was hanging around long after the group had left for the day. Sure the royal cafes offered the best food in town but something beyond my base instincts was kicking in. Luckily, during such moments, my intuition takes over and dictates my actions or else my mind would have me running off to accomplish a million other things.

And so, I let my body lead the way, walking the well-worn paths that so many before me had trodden. I could even see their markings and I could certainly feel their presence. But there was something more. I was reminded of what my friend Colleen had lately observed. When I asked her why she was drawn to Greece recently, over other destinations, she said that the earth was calling us to these sacred sites not only to heal the land but also to remind the inhabitants of their forgotten wisdom. With this in mind, I did some digging (with the help of the SEJ community), and discovered that the properties I was most attracted to, in London, were indeed situated on ley-lines. The land and its spirits, long buried, were calling out for peace. The least I could do was offer my presence & love.

Although I’ve always travelled with purpose this new awareness has now added an extra dimension to my journeys. In addition to connecting and receiving the energy from sacred sites, I realize I must also give my energy to these places in this time of need. In fact, I believe we are all being called to do so. I’ve long suspected that the journey often chooses us, rather than vice versa, and now I’m beginning to see it even more.

We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. -Joseph Campbell

~CO

Ireland Forever

2010-10-17T15:37:00.002-04:00

As I try to wrap up my thoughts, I realize there is so much more I can write about. For brevity sake, I will encourage anyone who reads this to visit Ireland and discover her many wonders. And I would direct you to the poetry of W.B. Yeats, the writings of John O’Donoghue, and the music of Christy Moore and Seán Tyrrell, just to name a few.

The last stops of our tour end in Galway and Dublin ~ urban, sophisticated, yet with a lyrical ambience. How serendipitous that we should be in Dublin for the misty full moon of autumn equinox, and the following day, September 23, 17:49 to raise a toast to Arthur on International Toast Arthur Day! For those of you who don’t know about Arthur Guinness, he is a revered man who founded his brewery in Dublin in 1749. He provided us with plenty of refreshment during our pilgrimage.

I write this last blog in the wake of Black Thursday, September 30, which feels all the more devastating after seeing Seán O’Casey’s play, The Plough and the Stars at the Abbey Theatre. Such a tumultuous history! But I leave with a bright vision for Ireland from atop the Hill of Tara; panoramic vistas, as far as the eye can see, and feeling the surge of energy coursing through the land as I joined hands with my roommate, Susan. This is a country that is no stranger to adversity, yet survives with a strong spirit.

At our farewell banquet, a final feast after days of consistently excellent meals, my fellow pilgrims and I are filled with gratitude - For Helen, who organized all the logistics and attended to every important detail. For our attentive driver Gregory, who took care of us with his unfailing hospitality and good cheer. For the great chemistry of our group; all of us undoubtedly have been changed by this experience. We are anam cara. For our extraordinary leader, Phil, who brought us soulful magic, mystery, literature, and music. And for all the people we met along the way who touched our lives.

What a blessing this pilgrimage has been. We can create our own Book of Kells with these rich memories and new understandings of the understory that is Ireland.

Suaimhneas (deep peace),
Joan Ishibashi

Highlights of Ireland Tour

2010-10-10T18:09:00.007-04:00

George Bernard Shaw said, 'We spend our lives circling around what we really want to say.' That seems to be the story of my life. But the Celtic swirl has propelled me into new self-awareness, sometimes welcome, sometimes not. And also with thanks to a small kick in the behind from Phil's pilgrim insights and pointed questions. That being said, I want to send a couple more blogs and feel like I'm circling the Hill of Tara, wondering how to wrap up a royal and epic journey. There is enough to fill a book, so I'll merely mention a few more highlights.

• Coole Park - beautiful and serene, home of Lady Augusta Gregory, and inspiration to W.B. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, and Sean O'Casey, to name a few.

• The Abbey Theatre - a fitting birthing place for a true national theatre, in the heart of Dublin, near the O'Connell Bridge, site of creativity and revolutionary unrest.

• The lovely town of Clifden - where we experienced jaw-dropping visual arts and music at the Clifden Arts Festival, while mingling with the local artists. Once again I am swept off my feet by the romantic Irish. ;)

• A brief visit to the picturesque town of Westport - where I wanted to roam the streets and look for my new friend Aisling. Our conversation about her life, hopes and dreams was too short and I wanted it to continue. I didn't find her shop, so I'll have to e-mail her from the States, and hope I see her again one day.

• Who would've thought there would be a coral beach with pristine aquamarine waters? But there we were in Derrygimla, with most of our group dipping their toes in the ocean. I never saw such lush beds of kelp in all my life, so I had to sit in them while contemplating the starvation of millions of Irish. I was surrounded by opihi (cockles, I think), mollusks, and piles of delicious-looking kombu, a veritable feast already seasoned with ocean minerals and ready to eat. Here was an abundance of food, out of reach, and perhaps unknown, to the starving victims of English oppression.

• Images of the coffin ships are now seared into my consciousness. Entire villages, cleared of inhabitants, people sold into slavery or starved to death - these images haunted me as I stared out at the Atlantic and dug my feet into the kelp and coral. The dichotomy of our tragic human history set against the breathtaking beauty of land, sea and sky is jarring.

The beauty of this part of Ireland, the joy de vivre of the people who are embracing the fall of the Celtic Tiger as an opportunity for rebirth, will continue to speak to my soul.

From here we move on to city life, as we head for Galway and Dublin, and some final farewells. Guinness evenings help us on our way…

~ Joan Ishibashi

The magic continues

2010-10-01T17:14:00.005-04:00

Along the pilgrim way we have been journaling, drawing, writing poetry and musing as we listen to voices, ancient and modern, and try to make sense of what is being evoked within our souls.

Each day Phil gives us another nugget, another layer to add to the mosaic that is Ireland. I love St. Brigid and the bold pirate Grace O`Malley ~ they encourage my sometimes flagging womanist loins. I am inspired by St. Ciaran, founder of the monastery at Clonmacnoise, who infused it with his vision, faith in God, and love for his people.

Each day is rich with poetry and music - how lucky to experience an intimate session with Sean Tyrell, singer of gravely intensity; a serendipitous opportunity to hear the great Christy Moore in concert, his songs and passion for justice continuing to reverberate amongst our Sacred Earth pilgrims; and breakfast with the poet Tony Curtis, who saw a group of beautiful pilgrim women and wanted to be a part of the dawning conversation. What a delightful flirt!

I must share, however inadequate my words, the luminous sessions we had with P.J. Curtis and Dara Malloy. We were blessed to have these men share their wisdom, their "mana'o" as I would say in Hawaiian, since I can't find an English word to describe the utter totality of their being, soul, person, and depth. What a privilege to sit at their feet.

P.J. is one of Ireland's foremost ethnomusicologists and musicians. He introduced us to the history and power of Irish music and its far-reaching influence beyond its native shores. He enabled us to appreciate the music we have been hearing throughout our pilgrimage. I'm inspired to pick up the accordion after so many years of silence! It is hard not to feel smug, going into the pubs and thinking, "I'm not just another tourist who has no understanding of the soul of Irish music." Thank you, P.J.

And Dara Malloy - Celtic priest, scholar, and holy man - met us on Innismore, the largest of the Aran Islands. By the time we arrived at Innismore, questions and longings that have been submerged within my soul have started spiraling out. The spectacular island landscape, the numinous light, the crystalline waters, and Dara's soul-sharing stirred those long dormant questions and questing. Mary Chapin Carpenter has a song called "Twilight" and I finally understand what she means by that magical time of day and the gloaming. The island pulsated with this sacred time and energy. I think I am going to swoon!

People go on pilgrimage around the world. I never expected Ireland to be anything more than just a beautiful country with friendly people. But Phil is showing me it is so much more. And as I get to know a bit of the soul of Ireland, I get to know a bit of my own.

Joan Ishibashi

Travel as a tool for cultivating happiness

2010-09-25T16:53:00.015-04:00

According to Statistician Nic Marks, with the Centre for Well-Being, the 5 practices for happiness are: 1) connect socially, 2) be active, 3) be mindful, 4) keep learning, 5) be generous.

We all do this as part of sacred travel so these age-old truths may seem obvious to us, on a personal level, but Nic Marks’ eloquent TED speech, about the need for a Happy Planet Index, will hopefully awaken the larger community as a whole. Science just may be catching up.

I invite you to take a minute to listen to Nic’s call for society to measure our lives in better ways. And, guess which country has the highest ranking on the Happy Planet Index? It’s probably not who you think it is. The future looks interesting…

http://www.ted.com/talks/nic_marks_the_happy_planet_index.html

We Are the Ones We've Been Waiting For
~ The Elders Oraibi Arizona Hopi Nation

Ireland: Land of Myth and Mystery

2010-09-21T15:34:00.005-04:00

After months of anticipation, Ireland is extending a warm greeting to this pilgrim from Cleveland, Ohio. Our pilgrimage leader, Phil Cousineau, is a long-time friend and muse. I know I'll come away from this trek with my soul blessed; inspired, enriched, and also seeking and questing. As I know Phil will give full, detailed and rich lectures about the sites, people, history, literature, and arts of Ireland, I also know he will lay many more mysteries at my pilgrim feet.

I look forward to boarding my flight for Shannon. But I’m also nervous. I am by nature an introverted person. What is it going to be like, traveling with 15 other strangers? As I meet my fellow pilgrims, my anxiety gradually subsides. I learn first-hand that people who join a Sacred Earth Journey pilgrimage are thoughtful, soul-full individuals who do not want to live life superficially. And finally, as we gather to board our bus, our driver, Gregory, adds the finishing touch with his graciousness and dry wit.

I am not prepared for the raw, breathtaking beauty of the West side of Ireland. Nor am I prepared for the hospitality and generosity of the people. Day after day, I've been the recipient of Irish hospitality, from the likes of Frances - who offered me a bite of her chocolate bar as we waited in Bunratty for the bus to take us to Ennis. And then she walked with me, through the streets of Ennis, showing me the sites, before wishing me Godspeed - to Ger, a renowned painter in Ireland, who treated me to a Guinness at a pub in Clifden, and then to a cup of coffee when I ran into him the next day.

Moment after serendipitous moment fill my heart with gratitude for this magical place. Here we are - a group of pilgrims from North America, in search of the understory of Ireland, the heartbeat that pulses in this place, the real story. Most people who visit see only the tourist version, missing the complexities, layer upon layer of all that gives this place its joyful yet tragic history and psyche.

After Phil's great intro to pull us together and prepare us for our travels, we go to the Cliffs of Moher and experience the immense power of nature that is unique to this land. On this particular day, we are blessed with 50+ mph winds, pelting rain and diaphanous mists. Argh!!! There were a few times I thought I was going to become airborne and soar right over the cliffs. I imagine with such power in the winds, and such stunning drama of the cliffs, the people can't help but become resolute in spirit; fierce warriors, courageous heroes and passionate lovers. Well, I can always imagine that it be so!

As pilgrims contemplating the cliffs, we ask ourselves, "What are we doing here? Why did we come? What are we trying to let go of?" We ponder these things as we face the edge of the world, this wild, verdant, jagged place.

The next day we head for Poulnabrone Dolmen, the portal tomb that is probably 6,000+ years old. In contrast to the Cliffs of Moher, it is a barren, moonlike landscape. But like the Cliffs, you can feel the power and energy surging through the earth.

The evenings bring different delights. Phil manages to find good craic wherever he goes, great atmosphere, music, food, and drinks. At Gus O'Connors Pub in Doolin, we are treated to a sublime fiddle, bodhran, and accordion session. And I meet a passionate Irish lover as we listen to music and share some Guinness. But that is an Irish understory that I will leave to your imagination.

Now I'm off to find the craic.

Joan Ishibashi

Living in the Now

2010-09-20T03:19:00.002-04:00

It almost seems impossible to live in the now when there is a trip on the horizon. I can’t help but get excited about my upcoming future excursion and wish I was there right now! I know enough to pull myself back to the present moment and focus on the energy I’m feeling which of course will propel me along the path – one step at a time.

However, once I master this technique my mind is off and running again with all the things I have to do between then and now – again taking me into the future. But how am I to live in the present moment, living my day to day routine, while an extra “to do” list sits waiting to be accomplished?

I then realize that this waiting period that I so desperately want to shorten is indeed necessary to make the required preparations. And, I know I should relish every second of it. It’s like having a gift and not wanting to open it too fast because then it will be over too quickly. Better to first appreciate the beautiful wrapping, time and care that went into it and to read the loving card attached. So much more joy seems to come to those who don’t rush.

As with everything, there is a season. The fruit must ripen first before it can easily be plucked. So too must a journey be first grown before the time is right to depart. Too soon and one’s not ready and too late and the freshness is gone.

I invite everyone to plant their garden of travel and tend to it, in the now, while recognizing when the moment has come to reap the harvest.

When does a journey begin?

2010-09-12T17:48:00.003-04:00

I believe the journey is always waiting for us – it’s just a matter of time before we act upon it. Often the journey begins to take form in our conscious mind through our physical senses. We see a movie, read a book, eat a type of cuisine, hear some music, smell a flower, or touch a family heirloom and we want to be transported to the source to fully immerse ourselves in the experience.

The signs will continue to appear in one shape or another as long as the underlying desire remains. And some indicators seem to show up with no apparent reason but there is no need to make sense of it at the time. Just keep embracing the occurrences and know it all adds up. The main thing is to be in flow and allow the unfolding to happen.

Of course, these external journeys are vehicles for inner journeys and ultimately our bigger journey. Thus they begin long before we even recognize it. Luckily we are all equipped with internal compasses to help guide us. Trust the universe, follow your heart, and you will unearth the hidden mysteries through travel. Or as Phil Cousineau (Tour Leader for our upcoming Ireland trip) advises, in his book The Art of Pilgrimage, “Uncover what you long for and you will discover who you are”.

What journey is calling you? And what step will you take today?

Why Try Yoga?

2010-08-06T14:53:00.005-04:00

Well, if you have ever had a knot in your stomach, been sick with worry, or lost your cool, try yoga.

The benefits of yoga are hundredfold. Yes, of course, we would all like to look better in a leotard, but let’s look at some of the psychological benefits associated with the practice of yoga:

Well, first of all, we know yoga trains our bodies. We feel fitter, stronger, have better posture and are more aware of our bodies. This makes us feel good.

And this good feeling can actually extend into accepting that maybe our bodies don’t look as we imagine they should in a leotard. Yoga helps us to be more accepting of ourselves, and our environment. Hostility, depression, anxiety and stress are lessened as our well-being increases.

But beyond this, as yoga helps us remove all the clutter from our minds, leading us to a space within ourselves that offers peace of mind. The space was always there; yoga just helps us to dive in and find it.

Get on the path to improved mood, calm nerves and a healthy body. Start with one of our yoga retreats, or our amazing trip to India in February, 2011.

An Egyptologist, an Archaeologist, a Healer and a Wisdom Keeper

2010-07-29T14:36:00.004-04:00

What do all of these have in common? You will find out on our tour to The Land of Ancient Wisdom—Egypt, this October.

Tour Leader Stephen Mehler has been fascinated with Egypt since the age of eight. Three degrees, two books, and a few decades of research later, we get the privilege of having Stephen impart his deep knowledge about this land to us.

Dr. Vivian Zaki, Ph.D., will be our local tour guide on this journey. She has a degree in Archaeology and Tourism with over 15 years experience guiding groups in Egypt. She will share her deep knowledge of the indigenous ancient Egypt. A wonderful person with a deep spiritual outlook, she will join in on the spiritual ceremonies we experience on this trip.

The son and daughter of the famous Egyptian-born Egyptologist and indigenous wisdom keeper, Abd’El Hakim Awyan, will also be our special guests in Cairo. Shahrzad Awyan is an internationally known healer and teacher in the ancient Egyptian techniques. Yousef Awyan is also becoming a wisdom keeper in his father’s tradition. He will offer us profound insights on site and be available at the Awyan home for further initiations in the Khemitian Mystery School.

Join us in Egypt and discover the wisdom of this ancient land with all of our great tour leaders, October 17th to 29th, 2010.

Creeping Serpents at Chichén-Itzá

2010-07-23T12:56:00.006-04:00

While Europe was still dwelling in the Dark Ages, the Mayan people had already mapped the heavens, were master mathematicians, had developed the only writing system native to the Americas, and had come up with the calendars we use today.

On our upcoming Sacred Journey to Mexico in December, we will get a firsthand taste of this culture that was way ahead of its time. One of the amazing sites we will visit is that of the famous Mayan pyramids of Chichén-Itzá. These ruins are over 1,500 years old and cover an area of approximately six square miles. Actually, hundreds of buildings once stood on this site, and though many of them are just mounds at present, there are still about 30 buildings that remain.

One of the main relics we will visit is the central pyramid, also known as El Castillo. This structure served as a temple to the god Kukulkan, and is believed to have served as a calendar. Interestingly, each of the structure's four stairways has 91 steps. Including the top platform as a step, in total El Castillo has 365 steps, one step for each day of the year. During the spring and autumn equinoxes, sunlight bathes the western balustrade of the pyramid's main stairway and causes seven triangles to form a shadow in the shape of the body of a serpent. The shadow appears to creep downwards until it joins the huge serpent's head carved in stone at the bottom of the stairway. It is an amazing site to behold.

This is just one of the amazing features of the fabulous Chichén-Itzá, the principal ceremonial center of the Yucatán, and just one of the sacred sites we will experience on our Maya Sacred Path to 2012 journey. Join us!

India + The Life-Changing Benefits of Padma Yoga

2010-07-20T13:15:00.005-04:00

We’ve been getting lots of interest in our upcoming Sacred Journey to India. Look forward to calming, refreshing and strengthening your body and mind under Padma’s experienced guidance. Now, that probably sounds so appealing that you feel like February is too long to wait! On that note, we have great news, because as a warm-up, you can whet your appetite and attend some of Padma’s Workshops in the lead up to February 2011.

Even better, if you register by September 15, 2010 for our Golden Sands and Diamond Skies trip to India (led by Padma), you will receive a 50% discount on one of Padma's upcoming retreats in British Columbia.

Padma's meditation techniques enhance high-level performance, sharpen awareness and develop inner power. Meditation stabilizes your nerves and clears your cluttered mind, giving you the ability to focus on and achieve your goals. Register now and get on the road to inner peace as soon as possible!

Sacred Earth Journeys Come Highly Recommended!

2010-07-13T11:29:00.003-04:00

Cool news!

Sacred Earth Journeys has been recommended on a travel review website called Simonseeks.com. Simonseeks.com is a website where a community of travelers, journalists and celebrities can upload travel guides and share their tips on the best places to stay, eat and visit. Ranging from London restaurants to Nice hotels.

Check out our recommendation here!

Early Booking Bonus - Journey Through the 5 Elements in Veracruz

2010-07-08T16:44:00.000-04:00

Our Journey Through the Five Elements in Veracruz will help you to reconnect with the Great Mother in the tropical forests, vast green sunlit valleys, and breezy ocean shores of the Gulf of Mexico. And, if you book before September 15, 2010, you will have even more to enjoy. You can choose one of these special early booking bonuses for the journey:

Naven Kendra Talisman - an ancient Vedic Talisman that operates through the gems it is set with; they resonate with the planets and align their influence on us. The Talisman has nine semi-precious stones: ruby, diamond, pearl, coral, gomed, blue sapphire, cat's eye, yellow sapphire and emerald, and is used to augment positive astrological influences.

Healing Session with Raùl
Chakra balancing (using a pendulum and Chi transmission through the healer’s hands) and a Chi Kung massage for the organs, breathing techniques (guided by Raùl)

Organity Massage Session with Raùl
A deep healing massage which brings the body to an experience of organic unity. Using long movements that bring the blood back to the heart, and unblock tensions developed in the muscle structure, this massage generates a deep relaxation and promotes healing.

Shamanic Healing and Cleansing Session with Raùl
Depending on the issues at hand, this special treatment uses an egg, fire, smoke, metal or water for healing and cleansing. The healing cleanses the aura, chakras, energy channels, and the subtle body, and gives healing light to an organ or specific part of the body.

Lamb Skin
A way to increase our chi kung and meditation experience is by practicing on a lamb skin. It helps us develop our energy more efficiently. Before using the lamb skin, you will learn a ritual that promotes positivity in relationships.

Live a more sacred and balanced life, fully attuned to the rhythms of Mother Earth.... book to join our journey to Veracruz by September 15, and receive one of these great bonuses. Let the five elements aid in restoring balance within yourself as well as the natural world.

Upcoming Sacred Journeys – Plan Ahead for this Year

2010-07-05T14:44:00.008-04:00

There are some amazing Sacred Journeys to look forward to this year. Here is an overview of where you can go to refresh yourself, learn, and be enlightened with us! Register early to reserve your space on these inspiring, life-altering trips:

September 13 – 24, 2010
To Ireland, the Land of Myth and Mystery: a pilgrimage through the captivating “Isle of Eire” where the age of myth, mystery and magic live on.

September 17 – 25, 2010
To Peru, Heart of the Pachamama: explore the mysteries of the majestic Andes and the enlightenment and inspiration to be found in this warm and harmonic land.

October 17 – 29, 2010
To Egypt, the Land of Ancient Wisdom: delve into the wisdom and enlightenment of the ancient Egyptian culture, and return home with greater awareness and power.

December 2 – 11, 2010
To Mexico, and the Maya Sacred Path to 2012: connect with ancient wisdom and energies directly at their source, bring your spiritual consciousness to the next level.

February 20 – March 6, 2011
To India, Golden Sands and Diamond Skies: Daily yoga classes to calm, strengthen and refresh your body. Guided meditation to bring you closer to a space of inner peace, joy, and clarity.

February 23 – March 4, 2011
To Mexico, Journey Through the Five Elements in Veracruz: Strengthen your body, mind and spirit. On this journey explore the elements of water, earth, air, fire, and ether, and how to integrate them into your daily physical and spiritual practices.

We hope you can join us this year on a Sacred Journey.

Vedanta from Someone Who Lives It

2010-06-30T15:29:00.005-04:00

One of the unique things about a Sacred Journey are the tour leaders that set the tone for the journey. We have already featured Padma, one of the tour leaders for our upcoming journey to India. Our local guide, Aarti Bhalla is another amazing person. She is a keen trekker, an ardent nature lover, a passionate environmentalist, and a practitioner of alternative medicine. And beyond this, what qualifies her as a Sacred Journey tour leader? Aarti is also a spiritualist who advocates and lives Vedanta.

What is Vedanta? It is an Indian spiritual philosophy that is surprisingly relevant to modern life and of great help in managing stress. How? Well, one of the great themes of Vedanta is the unity of existence; the divine is in all of us, in everything.

What this means is that whatever we see, whatever we experience, is all a manifestation of this oneness. The divinity in us the same divinity that lies in nature, in others, in the planet. There is no place where we do not exist, or are not part of. Fear and misery arise when we imagine ourselves to be separate. Vedanta means realizing that whether it be someone you love, someone that you find difficult, a beautiful butterfly or a loathsome rat… all these manifold aspects of creation are united in and through divinity. We are all connected. We are not alone.

Learn more about how the Vedanta philosophy can manifest itself in positive ways in your life. Join Aarti and Padma in the Golden Sands and Diamond Skies of India this February.

Water, Earth, Fire, Air and Ether in Veracruz

2010-06-26T15:28:00.002-04:00

Further to the last post introducing our latest Sacred Journey, Journey Through the Five Elements in Veracruz, let’s take a look at how this journey will connect us to the energies and healing power of the elements:

Water: You will get to revel in the purifying element of water at Cascada de Texolo waterfall and Eyipantla Falls -- a splendid, 164-feet-tall waterfall. You can cross a rope bridge and descend 244 steps to experience the falls face-to-face.

Earth: You will be grounded with the strengthening earth element at Cempoala, with its three intriguing rings of stone, and the amazing archaeological site of El Tajin.

Fire: You will experience the Fire element and its energizing and revitalizing powers in a Fire Dance and Fire Walk at Nanciyaga Ecological Reserve.

Air: Your spirit will soar and negative energies will be lifted away with the air element during the cleansing Limpia and Temazcal Ceremony.

Ether: You will examine the ether element by exploring history and rediscovering ancient peoples at the Anthropology Museum of Xalapa.

Come and reconnect with the elements along with us in Veracruz this coming February.

Lift Away Your Negative Energy

2010-06-23T17:30:00.004-04:00

The sacred teachings of the ancient Aztec people are by no means lost, rather they are very much alive and just slightly hidden away in the small towns and countryside of Mexico. And thank goodness for them — our modern lives are lacking in these kinds of spiritual practices that bring back the balance to our body and spirit.

Our upcoming Sacred Journey to Veracruz, Mexico will give you the opportunity to experience an ancient healing ritual, namely "Limpia". A Limpia is a specialized ritual for bringing balance back to the body and spirit. The word Limpia means "cleansing," and this cleansing can come in a variety of forms. One goal of the Limpia is to draw out illness and negative forces from the body and spirit, and use the art of cleansing prayer to replace them with a healing energy.

Join us on this tour through the Five Elements of Veracruz in February, 2011 and experience Limpia firsthand--your negative energy will lift away in these beautiful surroundings.

To Vacation? Or to Pilgrimage?

2010-06-17T14:27:00.003-04:00

What is the difference?

A pilgrimage can be defined as a ‘long journey or search’. But the word ‘pilgrimage’ can denote even more: yes, something beyond the physical journey itself. A true pilgrimage is a journey to a holy, sacred place. Finding the right path to a meaningful pilgrimage is an important factor. Part of the act is simply removing yourself from your everyday life. But there is more to it. When you replace your familiar scenery with the presence of sacred sites full of power and deep meaning, that travel can turn into a miraculous act of positive transformation.

Sacred Journey tour leader and best-selling author Phil Cousineau put it well in his book, ‘The Art of Pilgrimage’:

“Pilgrimage is a spiritual exercise, an act of devotion to find a source of healing, or even to perform a penance. Always, it is a journey of risk and renewal. For a journey without challenge has no meaning; one without purpose has no soul...”

Interestingly, one definition of a vacation is: ‘A period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation.’ On a Sacred Journey, pleasure, rest and relaxation are a dividend reaped bountifully; one that reaches far beyond the ‘vacation’ itself.

Pilgrimage is an important part of your spiritual path. Find your spiritual destination on the path of a Sacred Journey.

A Daily Dose of Healing

2010-06-12T13:44:00.006-04:00

Last post I mentioned our upcoming trip to India. For both experienced yogis or the newcomer to the practice of yoga, this trip will sure to be a restorative, beautiful experience.

I wanted to share a little a daily dose of healing energy that our tour leader, Padma, offers by way of her daily television series, Padma Yoga: The Elemental Series. Check out Padma's show here. Padma is a certified teacher of Advanced Yogic Sciences and Meditation and Hatha Yoga. She takes a holistic approach to mental, physical, and spiritual wellness. To help us stay present and focused, each day on her show, Padma introduces a ‘Sanskrit Word of the Day’. She shares her extensive knowledge and explores with her viewers these essential words of yogic philosophy and their ability to inspire our lives and our yoga practice.

So, check out Padma's show and whet your appetite for your own yoga journey. Come along with her next February on our restorative and inspirational journey to this spiritual land.

The True Spirit of Living

2010-06-09T14:17:00.003-04:00

A big obstacle to maintaining a state of joy in life are the worries and concerns of everyday living. There is a lot to face up against. Sometimes we can't make situations go away. But inner joy leads to outer joy. Joy is not in the absence of problems, rather, joy is present when we live life with the true spirit of living.

One way to train the mind to find joy in the true spirit of living is the daily practice of yoga. The mind needs regular training to stay in shape. Yoga is a practice that trains both the mind and the body. Multi-tasking! Now there is a word we understand the meaning of. Well, what better way to fit something essential into hectic life than to practice yoga; train your body and mind at once.

A great way to get into the practice of yoga is on our latest tour addition, Golden Sands and Diamond Skies. On this journey in India, you will begin each day with gentle yoga classes that will teach you to calm, strengthen and refresh your body. Daily meditations will guide you closer and closer to a space of inner peace, delight, and clarity--the true spirit of living.

We invite you on this trip! It will be sure to leave you with the calmness and clarity that comes from a rejuvenated mind and body, and give you a kick-start to practice this kind of good, rejuvenating multi-tasking every day of your life.

Outgrowing Our Culture

2010-06-05T11:06:00.002-04:00

It’s not easy to grow spiritually in this world, when everything around us is based upon physicality—appearance, having a nice home, money, status, material goods. We’ve been programmed to some extent by the culture that we have grown up around. It formed in us some good values, but maturity gives us the opportunity to rise above and beyond that which was assimilated almost by osmosis. Rather than endlessly seeking out external rewards, we can learn from other cultures and people, and strive for a balance between the material and spiritual aspects of our lives.

Why is spiritual growth important? It definitely isn’t easy. Here are a few good ways to start thinking in new directions:

1. Don’t compare yourself with others. It will only cause confusion. We have to focus on what is going on internally with ourselves. That is the way to true happiness.

2. How do we do that? Well, we have to be willing to dredge up and identify the truths that lie deep within us. I believe the only way to do this is by looking at our thoughts and feelings; focusing on what our inner voice is telling us in relation to our outer experiences. We have to do this honestly, and without judging or criticizing ourselves. Rather than berate ourselves, focus on areas where we need to improve. It will take effort.

3. Remember that anything worth doing isn’t easy.

We all need a purpose and meaning to be truly happy. Spiritual growth is the path to gaining this in our lives. Join us for a sacred journey and let it be a fresh perspective that starts or continues to lead you down the path of spiritual growth.

The Music of Ireland

2010-06-02T11:06:00.007-04:00

Our upcoming tour to Ireland in September will no doubt be full of ‘endless supplies of ale’ (whether we find it at Newgrange or at a local pub!). But what goes better with a pint of Guinness than a good jig or two? Irish traditional music has its roots in many kinds of songs--drinking songs, ballads, step dances. But for those of us that are fans of modern Irish music--of the Van Morrison, Sinead O’Connor and U2 ilk--it’s also interesting to note the influences of traditional Irish music you can hear in these mainstream popular songs.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, of course. I’m happy to say that our Ireland tour will include a special guest who will enlighten you even more about Irish music. Author, musicologist and lecturer P.J. Curtis will take us on a musical journey to the soul of Ireland and its music. P.J. has been involved in music and writing since the mid-seventies, and is one of Ireland’s leading authorities on Irish music.

P.J. will be joining us for a jig or two, and inspiring us with his accounting of all things musical in Ireland this September. Join us and explore the music, storytelling and poetry of this land with us!

Cloudy Weather, Sunny Mood

2010-05-28T13:22:00.004-04:00

A recent overcast day and the overcast mood it brought with it started me thinking about how much easier it is to feel happy on a beautiful, sunny day. Why is this? Am I really so easily affected by some temporary weather pattern? Well, in truth, no wonder I am. We are really very interconnected with our planet, whether we are conscious of it or not. But, all that kind of higher plane thinking aside, the reality was, I still felt slightly down as I walked outside to face the world that day.

Well, the conclusion I reached, as my umbrella blew inside out, was that it really just comes down to the fact that on a beautiful day, beauty comes and smacks us in the face (and, as in this case, sometimes the bad weather comes and smacks us in the face too!). But on a sunny day, we don’t even have to try. Everything is glistening and flashing—the planet decked out in diamonds and gold. On a rainy, dark, socked-in day, is the beauty gone? No, of course it’s still there. The view as I walk out my front door is unchanged. The difference is, the make-up is off. The accessories aren’t catching the light and drawing me in.

Next rainy day, I am going to enjoy my natural, unmade-up planet for what it is. The beauty underneath any outer attractiveness is the kind of beauty that lasts anyway. I’m pretty sure next rainy day I am going to walk out and my beautiful earth is will look amazing--make-up, sun, rain, clouds, inside-out umbrella--whatever is in front of me, I am going to let it bring a smile to my face.

Mystical 'Endless Supplies of Ale'?

2010-05-25T15:32:00.004-04:00

A great round tomb with intriguing spiraled rock carvings, Newgrange was built around 3100 to 2900 BCE; it is Ireland's very own wonder for the world--centuries older than the Great Pyramids of Egypt and a thousand years older than Stonehenge.

It has been said that Newgrange "cannot be regarded as other than the expression of some kind of powerful force or motivation”, and the feeling is definitely palpable here. The positioning of Newgrange definitely gives hints of significant astronomical alignments, and its round shape and spiral carvings all add to the mystery.

There is lots of speculation as to the purpose of this place, and its original significance. Though the answer to this is somewhat obscured by 5,000 years of history, when you are at the site there is no denying it was built with reverence and intelligence. The tomb was constructed with precision and forethought: on the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year) its alignment is just right to allow a shaft of sunlight into the tomb through a large opening above the entrance. For 17 minutes, once a year, this beam of light shines through and lights up a stone basin and the spiral carvings inside the chamber.

The great energy and mystical power of Newgrange cannot be explained, only experienced. Myths abound, one of which claims that Newgrange provided endless supplies of ale, three trees that were always in fruit, and two pigs. Though we may not find all of this at this sacred site today, we can guarantee that at the very least we will find endless supplies of ale as we meander our way through the rest of Ireland! Join us this September!

The Pyramids Beyond the 'Pyramids'

2010-05-21T15:37:00.003-04:00

Pyramids even more ancient than 'the pyramids'?

Allow our sacred journey to Egypt this October to introduce you, not only to the iconic 'Great Pyramid', but also to a few more of these amazing Egyptian feats of architecture.

The 'Red Pyramid' is found at Dashur, and is so-named because of the high iron content of the granite surface. It is more than just a pretty shape--we will venture inside the pyramid to experience the unusual acoustics, and evoke the sacred sound codes as the ancients did, experiencing the pyramid in the way it was meant to be experienced.

Even more unusual is the 'Bent Pyramid'. Its skewed shape is intriguing; we will learn about theories as to why it was built in this fashion.

As well, as pictured above, the 'Step Pyramid' is another style of pyramid we will experience firsthand on our journey. This is said to be the oldest of the remaining pyramids. The Egyptian priests performed sound healings here. We will explore the site and discover the historical and spiritual offerings it avails to us, today.

Our Sacred Journey to Egypt this October takes you inside Egypt. This is the Egypt of the ancients, not the Egypt of the tourists. We would love to have you come experience it along with us.

The Red Book as Travel Guide

2010-05-19T14:33:00.009-04:00

I recently came across this statement by Carl Jung:

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves."

And funnily, it made me think of going on a trip. It reminded me of why travel has always been a pathway to growth, for me. Sure, laying on a beach is comfortable, but the only change I'll see after that kind of trip is a quick-fade, return-to-pasty-white in a week tan. The best trips I have ever been on were those that brought me smack into another way of thinking, speaking, behaving, eating, living, and accomplishing things. This quote by Jung makes me think about that, and how jarring this can be at the time. When I have encountered these differences, and at times the frustration that goes along with them, and have embraced rather than judge them, true satisfaction and growth as a person always came.

Travel that takes me forcibly, by the hand, out of my life and my comfort zone--that is the trip I return from with a true glow, and not necessarily from the sun, either (though sometimes I get both)!

The Earth Was Just a Planet...

2010-05-15T13:52:00.007-04:00

Since bringing up the Mayan people the other day, I stumbled across a letter from someone that was on our December '09 trip to Mexico. I thought I would share some things that this traveler shared with us, with regard to their experience, because I found it really inspiring:

"When I arrived in Mexico... the earth was just a planet, the moon was just a rock satellite and the sun was just a burning ball of gas. By the time I left, I had a personal connection with “Ixchel” our Mayan mother earth, along with the bright sister moon and our heavenly warm father sun.

Words cannot describe the feeling of energy and connection to everything I felt as we explored the ruins after Miguel’s ceremonies...

I don’t think I can take a “regular” vacation ever again, when one can experience such beauty and have such fun while enjoying the Mayan teachings under a warm welcoming sun... it could be transformational in ones own spiritual growth if they are open to it."

This could be just the prescription for all our neglected souls out there! Thanks to Sal Nocitra for sharing this experience with us.

Healing Practices for the Soul; Prescriptions Welcomed

2010-05-12T16:24:00.000-04:00

I am a great believer in Alternative Healing Practices for the body (yoga, acupuncture, reflexology). My body is healthy, and I give a lot of the credit for my good health to how I treat my body. But lately, my soul has been feeling a little under the weather, and this caused rumbles of ruminating (as I have a proclivity to do): I know how to treat my body well, but what are good, proactive, natural healing practices for the soul? How can I treat my soul with the care I treat my body? I think at times I might be neglecting it.

Looking at Alternative Medicine practices for the body, they are as diverse in their foundations as in their methodologies. They can include non-traditional medicine, folk knowledge, spiritual beliefs, or newly conceived approaches to healing.

Healing for the soul? Any doctors of the soul, prescriptions welcomed via comments!

The Wisdom and Intrigue of the Ancient Maya

2010-05-08T19:46:00.004-04:00

All the interest in 2012 predictions have somewhat overshadowed all the other, perhaps much more interesting, and very enlightening things we can know about the Mayan culture. Here is a taste of this intriguing people and culture that we will be exploring in December of this year:

- The Maya were a civilization made up of people from the southern Mexico and Central American regions. Today there are about 6 million Maya living in these regions.

- The Maya were acute observers and mappers of the movements of the celestial bodies. They developed a complex cosmology and mythology that explained the past and predicted the future.

- The ancient Mayas developed a very advanced mathematical system, the only true writing system known in the Americas at the time, and a series of three interrelated calendars.

- The Mayans are also famous for their architecture. Their archaeological masterpieces can be found in the temple-cities of Chichen Itza, Palenque, Uxmal, Tikal and Copan, and others. Some of these temple-cities have been excavated and reconstructed, but many are still yet to be restored.

These interesting tidbits only scratch the surface of the wisdom that we can unearth from the ancient Mayan people. Delve into Mayan wisdom with us this December.

The Pleasure Prescription?

2010-05-04T13:38:00.007-04:00

As humans, we are drawn to pleasure. We pursue pleasures systematically throughout life, and this is quite natural. Pleasure is a positive feeling. But is pleasure the end goal? He with the most pleasure wins?

Actually, as we all experience, pleasure is transitory. One may work extremely hard to assemble all the necessary ingredients for the ‘pleasure recipe’—what our society prescribes as necessary for a happy life—only to find, incomprehensibly, that they are not really happy.

It is easy to get swept along in the cookie-cutter formulas that our culture has developed as coping mechanisms for what is broken. We fall into our place in the formula, and years can pass without being fully alive.

Change is like a vacation, it is said. But vacation being a vehicle for change? The purpose of a Sacred Journey is just that. It is a journey beyond self-indulgent, fleeting pleasure, to a place physically and psychologically outside the life that is known to us. With new awareness comes a new and often delightful deepening of perspective that can be life-altering. This is the kind of pleasure that endures.

The Awareness of the Conscious Dreamer

2010-05-01T15:18:00.010-04:00

In this complex world, imagine if you could learn to stop the chaos and look within, to your own body, for all the answers?

This is the practice of the ‘Conscious Dreamer’.

Opening up the door to your intuitive wisdom, and, a step further, harnessing the power within is just the beginning of finding life-transforming answers.

Like any self-improvement, this process begins with learning. Each individual has everything they need to know in their own body--their own cellular library. The work is in learning how to access it, and understand it.

What information is there for the taking? Anyone who wants to know who they are, why they are on the planet, or what is the purpose of their journey through time and space can access this information. This library is not one of mere books. It is in the form of words, yes, but also images, emotions, sensations and other types of sensory activity. All of it shows us the way to a healing path--a balanced understanding of mind, body, spirit, and emotion--for ourselves or for healing others.

Journey to the deserts of Mexico and become a 'Conscious Dreamer' by attending our Practical Intuitive Shamanic Training Course at the Centre of the Conscious Dream this November. Become deeply in touch with the shaman, priest, wise counselor and healer within yourself.

Find your Reservoir

2010-04-28T13:40:00.008-04:00

"Take the time to witness and appreciate the everyday miracles that surround us."

Meet Natalie Rousseau. Natalie has been teaching yoga for more than eight years. For those of us who think of yoga as a trendy fad, or something made for people that look good walking around in spandex, think again as you reflect on her words:

"I teach Yoga because I believe in its power to heal and transform. This belief is rooted in personal experience and is renewed through daily practice.”

Natalie has experienced firsthand the great joy of finding true peace within oneself. And like any good experience, she loves to share it. Natalie would love to guide you on your path to finding the vast reservoir of strength, creativity, contentment, happiness, and true peace within you.

Join Natalie on our Sacred Earth Yoga Retreat in Tofino, British Columbia in June, and embark on your own journey of self-discovery. All ages and abilities welcomed. The only pre-requisite for this journey is a sincere desire to begin.

Reconnecting with the Forgotten Truths of Ancient Egypt

2010-04-24T16:25:00.000-04:00

The frenetic pace of modern life can be so all-consuming we are left with little time for fulfilling connection with ourselves and those around us. Bombarded by information--simple, essential and fulfilling truths at times elude us, as the pace of life carries us along in its tide.

The ancient dwellers of Egypt had wisdom and knowledge that we are only beginning to rediscover and understand. They viewed their connection to all of creation in a very different way than we do today. How can you benefit from this ancient wisdom and reconnect with our Universe, Yourself, and Others? Stepping out of the modern world and immersing oneself in the simpler, purer truths of the Ancients is a means to regaining perspective and balance. This October, join our tour leaders, an Egyptologist and an Archaeologist, as they take you on a Sacred Journey to the Land of Ancient Wisdom--Egypt. Realize the harmony of the universe and the beautiful energy that comes from being attuned to it; return to life renewed and refreshed by this rare opportunity to delve into the wisdom of the Ancients.

Machu Picchu Reopens to Dancing and Hot Chocolate

2010-04-21T13:53:00.013-04:00

After torrential rains caused flooding that blocked off access to this amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu finally reopened for visitors in April.

Fortunately, the site itself escaped damage; however rail and transportation lines had to be rebuilt in the wake of the floods. Locals celebrated the reopening of the sacred site with Incan ceremonial offerings of gratitude to Pachamama, the Mother Earth, including traditional dancing, music, bonfires and, yes, even hot chocolate!

Machu Picchu is a reverent and important place to the locals for reasons both spiritual and economic. The smiling locals exude the peace of their spiritual heritage, one that is centered around reverence for the earth.

Immersion in the deep rituals and intriguing spirituality of the Incan people gives us a deeper understanding and appreciation for our beautiful earth. And, we must not forget that the locals also rely on tourist dollars to a great degree. So join us as we rejoin our Peruvian friends on a breathtaking journey to this lost city of the Incas in the majestic Andes this September. Read more about this journey back to Mother Earth here.

A Sacred Journey to Ireland, September 2010

2010-04-15T13:30:00.003-04:00

Get enchanted by the “Island of Saints and Scholars, Poets and Priests”.

This September, we invite you on a journey to mystical and breathtaking Ireland. This trip will bring you to deep into the very heart and soul of this rugged and magical isle. Your guide Phil Cousineau, author of The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker's Guide to Making Travel Sacred, will be your knowledgeable guide as you experience firsthand the essence of the storytelling, music, landscape and fierce independence that have made this Emerald Isle one of the most beloved countries in the world.

Come along on this Sacred Journey, September 13 to 24, 2010. Click here for the full itinerary. We would love to have you join us on this journey of beauty and discovery.